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MEMOIRS, 
DOCUMENTS, Sfc. 



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AUTHENTIC AXD INTERESTING 

II I '\ 

MEMOIRS OF MRS. ifcLARKE, 



IIEU INFANCY TO THE I'UESEN r TIME. 

LIKEWISK, 

A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF MR. WARDLE'S CHARGES, 

RELATIVE ro 

mS ROYAL HIGHNESS 

THE DUKE OF YORK : 

I'ocisriisn with 

THE MINUTES OF EVIDENCE, 

AS TAKEN IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. 



FROM AUTHENTIC DOCUMENIS 



ILLUSTRATED \V1 1 U 



A UEAUriFUL PORTRAIT OF MRS. CLARKE. 



V 



.v-i^y 



BOSTON: 

J. BELCHER, PRINTER, STATK-STR KKX 

1809. 



MEMOIRS 



MRS. CLARKE. 



Various and opposite ar^ the means by which ob- 
scure persons, of both virtuous and vicious habits, be- 
come the objects either of pubUc admiration, curiosity, 
or disdain. 

The accidental causes which sometimes Uft the un- 
known individual into notoriety are frequently as un- 
foreseen as they are remarkable ; and among the num- 
ber who exert their best endeavours to obtain publicity, 
but few become eminently conspicuous. A combina- 
tion of unexpected events, however, sometimes throws 
a person out of the common path of life, and gives him 
a distinguished niche in the temple of Fame, which 
creates a general enthusiasm to learn by what steps he 
ascended the high station of his repose, and the claims 
he had to it. 

It has been observed by Plutarch, that a jest or an 
apophthegm often shows a man more than a battle ; and 
it may be seen with what curiosity the biographers of 
old sought after the most trifling incidents of those 
characters whose actions or works handed their names 
2 • 



* MEMOIRS OF MRS. CLARKE- 

down to posterity. Little, therefore, can it be made a 
matter of surprise that the mistress of a Prince, who 
by her great powers of intrigue has agitated, and I may 
say almost suspended, the tranquility of the kingdom, 
should be a subject of biographical delineation. Cleo- 
patra, Livia, and a number of other beauties, who by 
their personal and mental qualifications enslaved some 
of the brightest characters tliat ever shed lustre on the 
Roman name, now enliven the historic page, and fill with 
delight the amorous periods of voluptuous romance. 

The name of Clarke, like that of Cleopatra, will, from 
her relative situation with an illustrious branch of tlie 
house of Brunswick, and the circumstances that have 
occurred from her connexion with royal blood, not only 
occupy the pen of the historian, the biographer, and the 
poet, but tlie pencil of the painter will be employed to 
gratify public curiosity with a variety of descriptions of 
her mind, character, and comicxions. 

The present portrait will, as far as authentic materials 
have furnished us, contain an impartial delineation of 
her character in all its various features, without descend- 
ing to party views of either jiattery or detraction. 

The subject of this Memoir is the daughter of a Mr. 
Thompson, who lived in Bowl-and-Pin Alley, near 
White's Alley, Chancery-Lane, where Miss Thompson 
was born, and where she continued to reside with her 
mother some time after her father's death. Her mother 
entered into the marriage state a second time with Mr. 
Farquhar, a compositor in the printing- oJEce of Mr. 
Hughs, who procured her employment to read copy to 
the corrector of the press. In this situation she attract- 
ed the notice of a Mr. Day, the eldest son of the over- 



MEMOIRS OP MRS CLARKE. O 

8cer of the same printing-office, who felt so interested 
in her welfare as to place the object of his admiration 
in a boarding-school at Ham in* Essex, with a view of 
making her his wife at some future period. 

On her return from boarding-school, after an absence 
of two years, Mr. Day discovered a great alteration in her 
deportment towards him ; and after several little alterca- 
tions between them, withdrew from her acquaintance. 

Her parents were now removed to Black Raven Pas- 
sage, Cursitor-street, Holborn, where her native vivaci- 
ty distinguished her in the neighbourhood as a fine 
sprightly and agreeable girl. 

Under the care of a father-in-law, and living in a 
neighbourhood at that time notorious for its being the 
residence of the most abandoned females in London, it 
is not extraordinary that Miss Thompson should have 
acquired habits not exactly congenial with the strictest 
rules of morality ; and accordingly we have an account 
of her intimacy with Mr. F — 11 — d, a pawnbroker, of 
Golden- lane, into whose good graces she worked her- 
self by the artful method she employed to induce him 
to advance sums of money much above the real value 
of the various things she surrendered to his care. 

It appears that the sensibility of this tradesman was 
not assailed by the poverty of the suppliant, but by that 
undescribable something which interested his feelings 
in her favour, and induced him to admit her into an 
apartment better calculated for private negociatiotis thaA 
his regular place of business. 

It has been ill-naturedly insinuated that she grew up- 
on the affections of Mr. F — 11 — d, and by ruinous means 
of artifice so repeatedly applied to his pocket, that \x\ 



6 MEMOIRS OP MRS. CLAIIKR. 

tlic end he became a bankrupt ; but we are inclined to 
believe that no share of credit can be attached to tliis 
storj'. If Mr. F — 11-- -d was in the habit oi' private fie-, 
gociafion, it most likely happened that otlier distressed 
fair ones obtained an admission to the interior j and in 
that case it cannot be a matter of surprise that his name 
should soon appear in the Gazette, 

That sprightlincss and animation whicli so much dis^ 
tinpuished this young creature in the circle in which 
she then moved, engaged the attention of all the young 
men in the neighbourhood, who vied with each other to 
catch the smile which played on her brow, and graced 
her lovely face, and which at last appeared directed to 
the unfortunate and ill-fated Clarke, the second son of 
a Avealthy l^ricklayrr in Angcl-Court, Snowhill, 

Young Joseph Clai'ke had been bound an apprentice 
to Mr. Burncll, the stone-mason, at the corner of Black 
Raven Passage, Cursitor- street ; but about this time h^ 
had just shook oft' the trammels of i\pprenticcship, and 
began to feel all the delights of unrestrained liberty, 
which alforded every opportunity his heart could pai\t 
for, to pour into the ear pf his lair one die soft language 
of affection. His efforts were attended witli success 
and the hymeneal knot made them one for life, at least 
according to law. But alas ! how mutable are all hu- 
man affiiirs, which no prophecy can divine, or wisdom 
prepare us to expect and meet. Time alone is the test 
by which true affection can be ascertained :uid valu- 
ed, as the short space of Mr. and Mr;?. Chuke's connu- 
bial happincs verities, among the many instances of 
misery that accompimy tlic f;urcst promises of comforts 
in the marriage state. 



IMEMOIRS OF MR8. CLAKKE 



V 



From the confined air of an alley they accordingly 
soon eloped, and lived for some time obscured in lodg- 
ings at Pentonvillc. In this neighbourhood Mrs. Clarke 
brought her husband her first child, as the tender pledge 
of their mutual afl'ection. Before they quitted this 
quarter of the town, Mr. Clarke exhibited his compan- 
ion to his friends for their congratulation ; and those 
persons, from having many opportunities of observing 
their conduct, now say that she continued but a short 
time to live with her husband on terms of peace and 
amity. 

Some time after the connexion, Mr. Clarke's father 
.set him up in business, in a stone-yard in Golden-lane, 
where he remained not much more than two years, when 
he was made a bankrupt by the late Alderman Staines. 

To the honour of Mrs. Clarke it must be observed, 
that she did not forsake her husband in his misfortunes, 
till his dissolute way of lifc, and the disgrace it entail* 
cd upon himself by his amours, obliged her to seek her 
safety m the world with, it is said, four children. 

Mr. Clarke, we are told, is now a wanderer about the 
town upon the moderate pittance of one guinea a- week, 
which he receives according to his father's will ; the 
bulk of whose fortune, about 18,000/, being settled on 
the other branches of his family. 

The want of industry and care on his part, and per- 
haps economy on her's, soon occasioned distress, with 
its dreadful train of evils, to disturb those happy mo- 
ments which the lover's hot imagination had painted as 
lasting ; and while labouring under pecuniary embar- 
rassments, it is said Mrs. Clarke again resorted to the 
successor of her Golden-lane friend, who, in Mr. 



'" 



MEMOIRS OF MRS. CLARKE. 



1 



-11— d's prosperity, had been his shopman. With 
this person she also had some influence in raising the 
circulating medium ; but as this convenient money 
lender was animated with a passion much stronger than 
that of love^ he bestowed more adoratioa on his gold^ 
than on Mrs. Clarke ; and as we have every reason to 
believe that money was the principal magnet of her at- 
traction, she soon ceased to assail the cold bosom of 
her young pawnbroker. 

To avoid a careless and drunken husband and pro- 
vide for her children, she endeavoured to obtain some 
kind of asylum in a family out of London, but was un- 
sucessful. In the midst of her anxiet}'-, a barrister ac- 
cidentally met with her, and she proposed a convenient 
period for a settlement, which he promised ; but as she 
could never get him to perform his promise, she, in the 
course of a short time, broke off the connexion. He, 
however, supported her children till subsequent good 
fortune enabled her to maintain them herself. 

Our young adventurer was too pretty to be long with- 
out a lover, and the next who took notice of her was Sir 
Charles M-ln-r. He, however, ranked but a short 
time among her admirers. 

Sir James B. was another in the list of her friends, 
but it appears he suddenly left her much disappointed 
and angry at his unhandsome departure without having 
first settled a small debt she had contracted. 

Thrown in some measure, upon the great stage of life, 
and having all her views veiled by an indeterminate end, 
one pursuit appeared to her as uncertain as another ; 
and as it would be of little importance which road she 
took in the wide map of adventure, she at last hit upon 



MEMOIRS OP MRS. CLARKE. 



that path which leads to mimic fame, and accordingly 
became a candidate for Thespian honours on the boards 
of the Haymarket Theatre in the gart of Portia ; and if 
report speaks truth, Mrs. Clarke's performance evinced 
more than an ordinary share of talent. She imparted all 
the beauties of the character to her audience, and deliver- 
ed the sublime speech on Mercy with a feeling and taste 
that would have graced some of our best performers. 

Her personal attractions, aided by the proofs she gave 
of mental endowments, which the stage affords a lady to 
show in the best point of view, it is said laid the founda- 
tion of Mrs. Clarke's recent elevation and prosperity 
in life. 

Whatever were the real motives of Mrs. Clarke for 
appearing on the stage, whether to follow the profession 
of an actress or exhibit her person to the eye of the pub- 
lic in order to obtain a suitor, cannot now, perhaps, be 
determined ; but at all events the result was fortunate : 
for it was at the Haymarket Theatre where she was 

first seen and admired by Lord B and Mr. O. an 

army agent : the latter of whom immediately introduced 
himself to her, and became her sincere friend, as will 
shortly be more particularly stated. 

While living in a state of uncertain provision, she is 
reported to have had a promiscuous intrigue with a Mr. 
M-p-1 — y, who is described as a young person calcu- 
lated, at that time, 1803, to fascinate women, and insin- 
uate himself into their good graces. He is also said to 
have been one of those persons who according to Mr. 
ColquhourCs Police of London, had no certain provision 
for the day, but regaled, or economized, as his knowledge 
of the town and the fortune of the gaming table attended 



hl?lll 



MEMOIRS Of MRS. CLARKE. 



usual exertions. Mrs. Chrke \vas, on the day of this 
accidental meeting, very fashionably dressed, and her 
amourous beau speculated rather largely upon the pecu- 
niary benefits that Avould probably result from his vic- 
tory over the passions of his fair one. She, it appears^ 
u-as also animated by a similar impression, and thought 
from the impudent ease of his address, and the style of 
his attire, that she had achieved the conquest of a good 
warm fellow. But such is often the effect of a good 
dress and good address, that a third of London are de- 
ceived by them, and led into error by their eyes and 
cars : and such was the case with this enamoured pair, 
who looked at each other as objects of pecuniary conse- 
quence. 

From what has already been given of this portrait, it 
may be supposed he had a plentiful share of what is 
called small talk, which embraced all the light floating 
subjects of the day : this qualification, united to a per- 
sonable man, gave him more than common influence 
over the feelings of Mrs. Clarke, and shortly made her 
•p7'o tempore, rib of his rib. As a mark of more than or- 
dinary attention, he took her into a hosier's shop, at the 
first interview, and purchased several trifling articles 
her fancy had singled out from the tradesman's stock, 
and then made an engagement with her to meet at 
Vauxhall on the following evening. The flattering 
prospect of a wealthy connexion was an inducement to 
each to keep their promise, and accordingly they met, 
and went to Vauxhall : but finding the gardens not very 
attractive that evening, and without a certain conveniejice 
lovers of this description usually look for, tliey retired 
to the Roval Oak Tavern, where she suflered herself 



MEMOIRS OF M«S. CLARKE. 



11 



to be prevailed upon to believe the next day would be 
time enough to return home. Our authority proceeds 
to say, that the house being very full of guests it was 
with great difiiculty an old press-bed could be obtained 
to consummate the happy union. 

It is an old remark, that those who endeavour to 
.please will please : and as it was the interest of this gay 
Lothario to make a strong impression on the lady's 
feelings, and at once establish himself as an ardent lover, 
it cannot create surprise to hear that she was much de- 
lighted with her chance beau, who proposed a small cot- 
tage at Bayswater where they might live in mutual love 
and happiness. Our young adventurer met the offer with 
enthusiasm, and in a short time they became house- 
keepers in the above neighbourhood, where Mrs. 
Clarke's acquaintance commenced with Miss Taylor, 
ivho has been an evidence in the House of Commons. 

Time, that works so many extraordinary occurrences 
in life, and makes cool reason resume her scat, ^vhich 
the passions had carried away in the current of their vi- 
olence, convinced Mrs. Clarke, as well as her lover, 
that their connexion would not turn out very profita- 
ble to either party ; and experience having taught them 
that love alone was the very worst dish on which they 
could feed, each began to meditate on different views 
in life. The lady found that her dashing gallant was 
not so rich as she expected, and that his daily resources 
were the accidental result of his success at the card Or 
billiard table. The gentleman also, had dived to a cer- 
tain degree into the history of his fair companion, and 
felt miserably deceived that Fortujie's wheel had turn- 
ed him up a blank — that show and cautious reserve on 



VI MEMOIRS OF iMRS. CLARKlfi. 

her part had led him into a connexion by which he had 
obtained nothing but — a woman. If inclination had 
prompted him to maintain his darling, the want of 
monc} , and the still greater want of credit, (which 
sometimes bolsters up a rake for a short period,) put a 
veto upon the continuance of their union. Accordingly 
Mrs. Clarke again launched into promiscuous life, and 
the gentleman took the pavee^ in order to kill all the 
beauty that came within the dart of his amorous eye : 
reserving to himself the sportsman's privilege of choos- 
ing his bird to shoot at. 

The next place wq hear of Mrs. Clarke is at Brighton, 
where, amidst the fashionable society of that place, she 
made a conquest of a more wealthy lover than the for- 
mer. She, however, appears to have kept in remem- 
brance Mr. M — 1 — y, from her urging him in very 
warm terms to come down to Brighton, as she could 
receive his visits privately. But as that gentleman was 
only acted upon by the prospect of gain, and as time 
and possession had sent to rest all the soft emotions of 
the tender passion, he did not obey the mandate of his 
late charmer. He was too well versed in all the arts of 
intrigue to place any dependence on the caprice of a 
^voman of whose disposition he must have known some- 
thing ; and as fresh pursuits in the affairs of love had 
double incitements — such as novelty of person, and 
prospects of profit — there Avas no very impelling motive 
to his making a journey to Brighton, merely to be the 
temporary convenience of the lady's amorous hour. 

The gallant with whom Mrs. Clarke was now bask- 
ing in the sunshine of fortune, at Brighton, was Mr. 
Dowler ; whose connexion \\\i\\ that lady has recently 



MEMOIRS OF MRS. CLARKE. 



u 



Ciigagcd the serious consideration of the House of Com- 
mons. With this gentleman she revelled in all the 
fashionable pleasures of the day, and lived as if a limit- 
ed fortune would never be exhausted. 

It is not our intention to attach any blame to Mrs. 
Clarke for the waste of Mr. Do^vlcr's money : most 
probably if she had not been in existence he would 
have spent his fortune in the same foolish, extra^'agant 
manner, with some other woman.' 

While Mrs. Clarke continued at Brighton under the 
protection of Mr. Dowler, it is said that she distin- 
guished herself as an excellent swimmer, and occasion- 
ally used to float on the liquid element to the great as- 
tonishment and admiration of the spectators. 

A mind physically strong, and an early attachment 
to literature and the arts, gave her many advantages of 
introducing herself to the notice of the higher circles 
of men, on whom she left a strong impression of her 
superior qualifications and agreeable society, that were 
not a little heightened by the sweetness of lier features 
and the elegance of her form. These imitcd perfec- 
tions soon raised Mrs. Clai'ke much above the common 
description of characters that ill-fortune, and a variety 
of fortuitous circumstances, have thrown upon the 
world for a precarious maintenance. 

As the public is impressed with a belief that she is 
extravagantly profuse in her style of living, and that all 
her happiness is centred in self, and her own immc.' 
diate gratifications, it is necessary, in justice to truth, 
to say, that this is not a faithful portrait of her charac- 
ter. Mrs. Clarke, though distinguished for many acts 
of imprudence and folly, has many traits (our siuthority 



14 



MLMOmS OF MRS. CLARKE. 



says) of a good heart. She has administered to the dis- 
tresses of a number of poor fiimilies ; and but fe\y per- 
sons, borne down by difficulty, ever applied to her in 
vain. 

Mrs. Claike, it is said, sets no value on money, fur- 
ther tlian it renders herself, and those with whom she 
mingles, happy ; but this remark is not to be understood 
to convey that she entertains a philosophic contempt 
for money, and that as long as she can procure a decent 
subsistence she is satisfied. She certainly has not so 
much of the ancient philosopher in her composition ; 
for no womai> loves or enjoys tlie luxuries of life and 
the table better thaii Mrs, Clarke ; but with these en- 
joyments she is not satislicd, if others do not partici- 
pate in them ; and what may be called avarice in her, 
to obtain money, arises from iui extraordinary desire to 
distribute pleasure and comfort to every one around her. 

There ai'c some minds so constituted, that to mea- 
sure their conduct by the common standard of human 
actions, would be absurd. A certain eccentric bias of 
the disposition leads them into modes of life peculiiu-ly 
tlieir own j and whether in poverty or affluence, the 
same cxtravagimt principle of feeling and acting will 
ever distinguish them. 

Mrs. Clai'ke is one of those eccentric beings who ap- 
pear happy in that vaiiety of speculative life which the 
generality of females have not courage or talent to en- 
counter. 

As Mr. Dovvlcr's purse was not so prolific as the 
mines of Peru, nor. filled the lap of indolence with that 
measure of massive metal which natiue has lavished 
on tlie torpid Spaniard, Mrs. Clarke soon had reason 



AlliMOIRS OF MRS. CLARKE. 1 •> 

to believe that her joys with him did not afford a pro- 
mise of long continuance. — Mr. Dowler's resources, it 
is said, principally emanated frolh the affection of doat- 
ing parents, who knew no bounds of indulgence to an 
extravagant son — a misapplied parental regard which 
at last reduced them to distress. 

A friendly ''separation now took place between this 
dashing pair, and on her return to London she again flew 
to the embraces of Mr. O — 1— e the army agent, who 
took the house in Tavistock-place which has been the 
.subject of so much remark in the House of Commons. 
Here was a remove at once into something like a regu- 
lar establishment, where she found herself mistress of 
an elegant mansion, and ^in full possession of every 
luxury. Her mental energies and love of literature 
had no^v the most favourable opportunities of cul- 
tivation; and as the desire of improving herself did not 
abate, and with the means in her power, she immedi- 
ately engaged masters of every description, under whom 
she acquired all the useful accomplishments of a gentle- 
woman. It cannot be a matter of surprise that such a 
woman should have an influence over the mind of any 
man with. Avhom she came in contact, particularly if he 
were a person whom she considered of importance to 
her comforts. Report speaks of her seldom failing to 
fascinate those whom she felt a desire to enslave in the 
fetters of love. A female of this description could not 
remain long in partial obscurity : the higher classes ol 
gay men would naturally feel an inclination to see her 
whose fame for accomplishments, and the art of pleas- 
ing, were so exquisitely united in one object ; and thus 
her name and attractive qualities soon reached the ears 



16 



]\LE\IOIRS OF M«S. CLARKE. 



of his Royal Highness the Duke of York, who, like 
otlicr men, is not expected to be exempt from the in- 
fluence of the tender passion. 

But before we proceed to take a view of her acquaint- 
ance with that illustrious personage, it may not be un- 
interesting to say something more with resjn ct to her, 
while residing in Tavistock-place. 

Her princii)al visitors here \vere Lord B. and Mr. O. 
both of whom lavished every indulgence upon her that 
the imagination of a giddy girl could suggest, or her 
lieart pant for. Her confidants at this time are said to 
be her mother and sister, the latter of whom is, no 
doubt, Mrs. Favery, one of the persons examined at 
the bar of the House of Commons. 

From Tavistock-place Mrs. Favery married, much 
against the inclination of Mrs. Clarke ; and after a 
short time she separated from her husband, and return- 
ed to Mrs. Clarke's house, where the husband present- 
ed himself, one evening, in great rage, to demand his 
wife : in consequence of which a serious quarrel ensu- 
ed, and the guardians of the night assembled to ap- 
pease the fury of the storm ; but before peace Mas re- 
stored, one of the enraged couple jumped out at the 
window to make an escape. 

It was during Mrs. Clarke's residence here that she 
pleaded her covertuR\ and in consequence of an acci- 
dent had nearly lost her cause at Westminster. Pre- 
vious to going to tlic trial, it was necessary to procure 
the certificate of her marriage at St. Pancras, Middle- 
sex, and accordinglj'^ the vestry- woman of Tavistock 
chapel was dispatched, in the character of an crrand- 
w Oman, to the clerk of that piuish, for the proper docu- 



aiEMOmS OF MRS. CLABKK. 17 

ment. By some unaccountable accident the certificate 
could not be found, just as the cause was coming be- 
fore the court : but on the discovery of the misfortune 
an active messenger was sent oft', and by great good 
luck the clerk of St. Pancras was in the way to make 
out another ceitiiicatc, which arrived but a few minutes 
before it was tendei-ed as a defence to the action in 
question. 

If report speaks truth, Mr. O. became greatly em- 
barrassed by his attentions in Tavistock-place, and in 
the course of time was obliged to relinquish all claims 
on the favours of that house. Mrs. Clarke, however, 
has always held his memory in esteem, and spoke of 
him with gratitude. 

Who the person was, or is, that became the imme- 
diate medium of introducing Mrs. Clarke to the Duke 
of York, is at present not well ascertained. Some per- 
sons have observed, that the Mr. O. just mentioned 
gave such a flattering description of her mind and man- 
ners to his Royal Highness, which brought about his 
acquaintance with this interesting woman. It however 
appears pretty certain that the Duke visited her at 
Tavistock-place ; and as her charms grew upon him, 
and warmed admiration into love, he only followed the 
footsteps of other men w ho had not philosophy enough 
to withstand the fascinating qualities of a lovely female, 
which generally lay a powerful hold on the sensibilities 
of our nature. 

We now approach that splendid period when Mrs. 
Clarke appears in a character far diftercnt Irom any 
thing that the fancy of the most vain could possibly 
picture, in the heat of its imaginary bliss. At once the 



et 



iH 



Ml'.MOIUh OF MKS (I.MIKr. 



cndcarhii^ conipaiiioii of Llic third i)ersoii in the btalc, 
suiTouiidcd by all the splendour that accompanies roy- 
alty, and niovinj^ amidst a retinue of gorgeous servants, 
like Venus attended by tlic obedient Graces, Mrs. 
Clarke ascended the throne of Gloucester-place Palace, 
where she held the sceptre of power, and dispensed l\i- 
Tours for two years. But, alas ! how uncertain are all 
earthly enjoyments ! She, who could conuiiimd the 
smiles and favours of a prhice — whose name and pres- 
ence delighted his ear and eye, is now like hemlock, 
which poisons and aftVights. 

It appears that nothing could exceed the liberality of 
the Duke of York, in fitting up this superb mansion. 
The establishment consisted of upwards of twenty ser- 
vants — a housekeeper, fi\'e or six maids, two butlers, 
and six other men servants. Three or four men cooks 
were frcfjuently employed, each of whom had a guinea 
a-day. Her confidential friends say she was allo^^-ed to 
receive whatever compiuiy she chose, and nothing was 
spared to give every one a princely reception. 

The furniture is described as having been the most 
magnificent that could possibly be procured. She 
paid from four to fne hundred pounds each for pier 
glasses ; and her wine glasses, which cost upwards of 
two guineas a-piece, sold afterwards, by public auction, 
lor a guinea each ! 

To tl\ings already named may be added two carriages, 
and from eight to ten horses, and an elegant mansion at 
Wey bridge, the magnitude of which may be conjec- 
tured from the single circumstance that the mere oil- 
cloth ibr the passagje cost fifty pounds. The funiiture 
of tlie kitchen at Gloucester-place cost upwards of two 



MEMOmS OF MtlS. CLARKE, 



19 



tliousand pounds, a sum greatly exceeding the expense 
of furnishing all the royal kitchens in the kingdom. 

Such (says one of her intimate friends) was the splen- 
did establishment to which his Royal Highness intro- 
duced the fair object of his esteem. 

Much has been said respecting the Annual income 
which Mrs. Clarke received from the Duke, to main- 
tain this gigantic concern. Her account is^ that his 
Royal Highness's settled allowance to her was one 
thousand a-year, which was to be paid monthly ; but 
with the addition of presents, &c. it might amount to 
about 1200/. per annum. 

That impartiality which we mean tO observe through- 
out the whole of this Memoir obliges us, injustice to 
the Duke, to say, that the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
denied her statement to be true, and declared that his 
Royal Highness's banker's book and accounts afford 
the most satisfactory proofs that she openly and fairly 
received from him about 6000/. per annum. Here we 
leave these two statements for that variety of opinion 
which will naturally be exercised upon this subject, 
without presuming to lead the reader on either side by 
speculative reasoning. 

However unpleasant it may be to narrate the misfor- 
tunes of a felloW'Creature, and however reluctantly the 
task is performed by us, in giving a biographical sketch 
of Mrs. Clarke, we are under the necessity of giving an 
account of those little disagreeable vicissitudes of for- 
tune which appear to mark her progress through life, 
while in the harbour of prosperity there is a gratifica- 
tion in pursuing her footsteps, because the idea of hap- 
piness is usually attached to the fortunate ; but when 
4 



20 



ME.MOIUS OF MRS. CLAKKE: 



the day of life is overcast, and promises but a gloomy 
conclusion, there is no satisfaction in taking up the 
pen to delineate it. It is from this impression that we 
have to perform a painful duty in observing, that it 
must be regretted that this lady, after the style of her 
living, should, cither from imprudence or some odier 
cause, be obliged to pledge and dispose of a vast quan- 
tity of valuable property ; of which, it is said every ad- 
vantage has been taken by those who live on the follies 
and misfortune of their neighbours. 

o 

Whether, as it is reported, Mrs. Claike expended 
large sums upon entertainments given to sheriff's offi- 
cers, musicians, &c. is of little or no importance. A 
large establishment of servants is not likely to have 
been kept for nothing ; and as the expenses of the house, 
we know, were considerable, it is only fair to conclude 
that Mrs. Clarke has given many a good dinner to a 
set of people who now return her hospitality and kind- 
ness with falsehood, calumny, and detraction. 

There is one thing of which we highly disapprove, 
and that is, that Mrs. Clarke should ever have given 
up the name and circumstances of her footman, Avhom 
the Duke of York could have had no motive for rais- 
ing but to oblige the woman he then loved, and in 
compliment to the memory of the young man's father, 
who had educated him for the life of a gentleman. We 
hope, however, the exposure of his introduction to the 
army will not, while he conducts himself as a gentle- 
man and a soldier, lessen him in the estimation of eidier 
his country or his regiment. 

It is understood that captain Sutton, the father of the 
young man whom Mrs. Clarke induced the Duke to 



MEMOIRS OF MKS. CLARKE. 



n 



place in the ai'my, was oile of the most accomplished 
gentlemen of the age, whose amiable disposition and 
companionable qualities attracted the notice of his 
Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, with ^^ hom he 
lived for a considerable time on terms of intimacy, and 
under the patronage of that illustrious i^ersonage. 
. This gentleman having experienced most of the in- 
conveniencies arising from the want of discretion, be- 
came destitute of the common necessaries of life ; and 
shortly before his death he had no resources but those 
which he derived from the bounty of Mrs, Clarke, who, 
as we have before stated, is highly distinguished for 
that virtue called charity. 

We cannot but regret that Mr. Wardle should have 
called in tlie situation of young Carter to support his 
case, because the Duke could not possibly derive any 
benefit from granting a commission to a young man 
in his humble . station, and raising him to his proper 
situation as a gentleman, from which he had fallen 
through the indiscretion and misfortunes of his father. 
It was an indulgence granted to the youth at the solicit 
tation of Mrs. Clarke, and ought on no account to have 
been made the medium of a public charge against his 
Royal Highness. 

To proceed any farther upon this topic might lead 
us into the great question now before the Commons of 
England, and also out of the path we proposed to tread. 
We set out by professing our impartialit\-, and a de- 
termination not to arraign the conduct of cither his 
Royal Highness or Mrs. Clarke, nor by the strength of 
speculative reasoning or prejudice to enquire which of 
them were most entitled to the attention and belief of 



32 



MEMOIRS OP MRS. CLARKE. 



the public ; and having, we trust, fulfilled our promise 
in not leaning to either side of the question, it is most 
likely that our readers will give us credit for impaitial- 
ity and independence. 

In whatever way Mrs. Clarke may view this bio- 
graphical sketch, (if the work should fall into her 
hands,) we cannot presume to say, because it often 
happens that persons who have raised themselves from 
a humble station to elevated life, dislike to view the 
source from whence they sprung ; but we hope that a 
little consideration on her part will convince her of the 
weakness of such pride. 

Half the families in England have originated in an 
obscure and humble stock ; and if she be the sensible 
woman we suppose her to be, she will feel, like Mr. 
Cobbett and others, proud that her merit has raised 
her from the cottage to the palace ; and that though 
her conduct must be universally disapproved, yet her 
abilities have gained her no ordinary share of public^ 
notice and admiratjon. 



CHARGES 

EXHIBITED AGAINST 

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF YORK, 
BY MR WARDLK. 



-Mr. Waudle commenced his Charges by stating as follows. 
He said that the first establishment under the control of the Com- 
mander in Chief to which he would call the attention of the House 
was the Half-pay Fund, arising from the sale of commissions va^. 
cant, cither by death, by promotion, where officers were not allowed 
to sell, or by dismissals. The legitimate power which the Com- 
mander in Chief possessed over this fund was either that of reward- 
ing deserving officers with any of the commissions which fell in, or 
of causing them to be sold, and the money applied either to the re- 
demption of the Half-pay-List or in aid of the Compassionate Fund. 
If he could prove that commissions, so vacated as he had described, 
had been sold, and applied to different' purposes, he should establish 
the fact, that the original intention of the Half-pay Fund had been 
abandoned ; for in such cases he should prove, that neither had merit 
received any reward ; the Half-pay List experienced any reduction, 
nor the Compassionate Fund obtained any assistance. In the year 
1 803, his Royal Highness the Commander in Chief took a handsome 
house in Gloucester-place, engaged a full establishment of servants, 
and placed at their head a lady of the name of Clarke, whom he should 
frequently have occasion to mention in the course of what he had to 
say. And here he trustcdthat the House would be convinced, from 
the number of facts which he should have to allege, and the num- 
ber of names which he would distinctly and unequivocally declare, 
that he hadn9t taken up this subject on light grounds. 



04 



THE CHARGES. 



FIRST CHARGE. 



In the first case that he would submit to the house, Major Ton}Ti, 
(then captain Tonyn) of the 3 1 st regiment and lieutenant Donovan of 
the Royal Garrison Battalion, were concerned. The former, as he 
understood, for he had not the honour of his acquaintance, was a most 
meritorious officer, and he trusted that he should not be considered 
as casting any reflection on him by stating precisely what had come 
to his knowledge with respect to this transaction. Captain Tonyn, 
although the son of a distinguished general, not having been for- 
tunate enough to obtain the promotion for which he was anxious, 
was, by captain Huxley Sanden of the Royal Waggon Train, intro- 
duced to Mrs. Clarke. In consequence of that introduction an 
agreement was entered into between Mrs. Clarke and capt. Tonyn, 
that on the promotion of the latter to the majority of the 31st he 
should pay Mrs. Clarke the sum of 500/. through the hands of Mr. 
Donovan. Before he proceeded it would be necessary to apprise 
the House who Mr, Donovan was. In the year 1802 he had been 
jippointed a" lieutenant in the 4th Royal Garrison Battalion, and had 
afterwards been removed to the 1 1th Garrison Battalion, in which 
he still continued. The House would naturally ask what this gen- 
tleman's serrices have been. Certainly not of a military nature ; 
for from his first appointment to the present hour Mr. Donovan had 
pot gone near his regiment, having, as it were, obtained perpetual 
leave of absence ; a circumstance at which, when the House became 
better acquainted with the kind of services which Mr. Donovan had 
actually rendered, they would not be at all surprised. To return to 
the case which he had beep stating, the 500/. lodged by captain 
Tonyn with Mr. Donovan was paid to the hands of Mrs. Clarke by 
ifaptain Huxley Sanden, and captain Tonyn obtained his majority. 
Now the regulation price of a majority was 1 100/. ; so that the half- 
pay fund lost 1 100/. for the purpose of putting 500/. in Mrs. Clai-ke's 
pocket. This 500/. he could prove was immediately paid by Mrs. 
Clarke to Mr. Burkett the silversmith, in part of payment for a 
service of plate sent by him to Gloucester-Place, and the deficiency 
for which Avas paid by the Commander in Chief. It thus evidently 



THE CHARGES. 25 

appeared that his Royal Highness was in this instance an absoKitc 
partaker of the benefit derived from this nefarious transaction ; and 
the House would be awai'c, that to p^ve the truth or falsehood of 
the circumstances which he had slated, no less than five witnesses 
might be summoned to the bar, namely, major Tonyn, Mrs. Clarke, 
captain Huxley Sauden, Mr. Donovan, and the executor of Mr. 
Burkett. 

SECOND CHARGE. 

The second case which he should adduce of the iniluence pos- 
sessed by Mrs. Clarke in military matters was an exchange wliich 
took place between lieutenant-colonel Brooke and lieutenant -colonel 
Knight. In this negotiation Dr. Thynne, a medical gentleman of 
high respectability, was concerned. It was agreed betwixt him and 
Mrs. Clarke, that if the latter could effect the wished-for exchange, 
she should receive an acknowledgment of 200/. It chanced that 
just at this time Mrs. Clarke had a strong inclination to make an 
excursion into the country : she stated her wishes to the Com- 
mander in Chief, and infonned his Royal Highness that they might 
be gratified without any expense to himself, as an opportunity then 
offei'cd of obtaining a sum of 200/. provided his Royal Highness 
would cause the exchange of colonel Brooke and colonel Knight 
to take place. On the very next Saturday the exchange of these 
officers was gazetted. Of this fact he could prove the reality by 
the evidence of lieutenant -colonel Brooke, lieutenant-colonel Knight, 
Mrs. Clarke, and Dr. Thynne. As a contrast to the facility with 
which the exchange of these two officers was effected, he would 
mention a circumstance which had occurred a few weeks ago, and 
which showed how difficult it was for officers, even of high rank 
and great respectability, to obtain the most reasonable indulgence, 
without availing themselves of undue means. Major Macd,onald 
and major Sinclair, men of high military character, were placed in 
the following predicament.- They were both in bad health. Ma- 
jor Macdonald, with whom the climate of England agreed infinite- 
ly better than that of the West-Indies, received orders to join hi*^ 
negintent, which was in ©»e of the We^t-India islands. Major 



26 THE CIIARGES- 

Sinclair, Avith Avhoni, on the contrary, the climate of the Wcst-Indiea 
agreed better than that of England, was most anxious to exchange 
with major Macdonald : but notwithstanding the utmost "exertions 
were used by both these officers to obtain an object so desirable by 
them both, they failed in their endeavours. The Commander in 
Chief forced major Macdonald to go abroad, he forced major Sin- 
clair to stay at home, and both had since fallen victims to tliis cruel 
arrangement, from not liaving offered a bribe in a quarter when 
perhaps they were not aware that it would have been unblushingly 
accepted. 

THIRD CHARGE, 

The third case which he should mention was that of majoi* 
Shawe ; and on this occasion Mrs. Clarke must have exerted her 
influence more strongly than usual ; for it appeared that major 
Shawe was no favourite of the Commander in Chief. Mrs. Clarke 
and Mr. Shawe, however, soon came to a right imderstanding, and 
the latter consented to give the former no less a sum than 1000/. 
on being appointed deputy barrack-master-general at the Cape of 
Good Hope. Major Shawe's appointment to that situation was in 
consequence gazetted on the 3d of April, 1807. He immediately 
paid himself into Mrs. Clarke's hands, 300/. ; soon after he sent 
her 200/. more through his uncle, Mr. Shawe. For the remaining 
500/. Mrs. Clarke applied in vain ; and when, after repeated at- 
tempts, she found that she had no chance of it, she complained t« 
the Commander in Chief, who felt so much enraged at the circum- 
stance, that he immediately put major Shawe on half pay. He 
(Mr. Wardle) had in his possession a letter of major Shawe's, com- 
pkiining heavily of the treatment he had experienced. Mrs. Shawe 
had also written to Mrs. Clarke, and threatened her and the Com- 
mander in Chief with a public exposure of the whole transaction, 
xmless justice were immediately done her husband, but in vain. 
This case pretty clearly showed, that Mrs. Clarke's influence ex- 
tended to the staff as well as to the other departments of the mili- 
tary service ; and by reducing an individual from full pay, in con- 
sequence alone of his breach of such an iniquitous bargain, the 



THE CHARGES. 



27 



Commander in Chief had made himself a direct party to the trans- 
action. 

FOURTH CHARGE. 

The fourth case to which he should call the attention of the 
House, related to a levy under the direction of colonel French. 
Colonel French applied, in the year 1804, for permission to conduct 
the levy of a regiment. This levy was set on foot by the influence 
of Mrs. Clarke, to whom colonel French was introduced by captain 
Huxley Sanden, and an agreement took place by which it was stip- 
ulated that Mrs. Clarke should receive a given sum out of the 
bounty of each man, and have the patronage of a certain number of 
officers. This agreement Mrs. Clarke immediately made kno>vn 
to the Duke of York, and then sent colonel French to the Horse 
Guards to wait on his Royal Highness, where, after several inter- 
views, he succeeded in obtaining his object. As the levy proceed- 
ed, Mrs. Clarke received several sums from colonel French, from 
captain Huxley Sanden, and from a Mr. Corri ; one sum of 500/. she 
received by the hands of Mr. Corri, which was paid to him by Mr. 
Cockayne, a solicitor of eminence in London, employed by colonel 
French. 

FIFTH CHARGI::. 

The fifth case which he should state it would be necessary" for 
him to revert to lieutenant Donovan, of the Royal Garrison Battal- 
ion, who was the agent of an old officer, a captain Tuck, and who 
had actually given to that officer a written list of the prices at which 
Mrs. Clarke would engage to procure military promotions, namely, 
for a majority 900/. for a company 700/. for a lieutenancy 400/. and 
for an ensigncy 200/. Now, the regulation prices were, for a ma- 
jority 2,600/. for a company 1,500/. for a lieutenancy 550/. and for 
an ensigncy 400/. ; so that the Half-pay List, and the Compassion- 
ate Fund most evidently have sustained the most material injury. 



n 



THE CHARGES. 



SIXTH CHARGE. 



The sixlli case that he should bring forward was of a still mortf 
pointed nature, and bore on the Commander in Chief alone. He 
Avas prepared to prove that the Commander in Chief was to have 
had a loah to a considerable ambunt from colonel French, or his 
apcnt, on condition of successfully using his influence to procure 
for colonel French a large arrcar due to him from government, for 
the very levy of which he had already spoken. His Royal High- 
ness did use his influence, but did not succeed, and did not receive 
his loan ; and it was a fact, that at that moment there was due from 
government to colonel French no less a sum than 3000/. 

SEVENTH CHARGE. 

The seventh case which he should intrude on the patience of the 
House, was that of captain Maling, who, being apiwinted an ensign 
in the 87th regiment on the 28th of November, 1805, was made a 
lieutenant on the 26th of December, 1806, and obtained a company 
in the African corps on the 1 5th of September, 1 808. This African 
corps, by the way, was commanded by colonel Gordon, the Duke of 
York's private secretary. Captain Maling was a man of unexcep- 
tionable character ; he meant to cast no reflection upon him, but 
he certainly had had tlie good fortime to be a clerk in Mr. Green- 
wood's office, and he could prove, tliat though an ensign in 1805, 
he was at Mr. Greenwood's desk in 1807. But what was worse, 
was this, that in three years, without an hour of actual service, lie 
was put over the heads of all the subalterns in the army, consisting 
of hundreds of brave men who had long served their country — who 
had shed their blood in her defence and in the assertion of her glo- 
ry, and many of whom had even lodged money for the purchase of 
that promotion which captain Maling had thus easily obtained. 
Whether this was doing justice to the British army or not, he left 
the House to determine. 



THE CIIAIIGES. 



EIGHTH CHARGE. 



29 



The eighth case to which he would draw the attention of the 
House, and on which he could speak from his own knowledge was, 
that there existed a public office in the city, open to all comers, 
where military commissions were oflcred for sale at the reduced 
prices which Mrs. Clarke used to exact ; and the agents of whicli 
declared they were so enabled to offer them by Mrs. Carey, the 
present favourite of his Royal Highness ; and further, that in ad- 
dition to commissions in the army, they had the power of procuring 
all descriptions of places in the Church and State. Nay, those 
agents had not hesitated to give it under their own hands, that they 
wex'e employed by two of the first officers of his Majesty's Admin- 
istration.* 

• On Mr. W'ardlc being requested to name the agents, he said tlie of- 
fices he alliukd to were held in a Court off Thread-ncedlc-strcet ; that 
the names of the agents were Haylop and Pullen ; and that the persons in, 
Administration said to be connected with them were the Lord Chancellor 
ftnd the Duke of Portland. CTlie outrageous abmrdity of the latter part of 
*his etalcmetif caused the House to he convulsed tvith lav^hter.J 



AUTHENTIC DOCUMENTS, 

Sfc. Sfc, 



.0 



Wednesday^ February 1, 1809. 



Mr. Wharton in the Chair. 
THE following entry in the Gazette, 
pag« 970, Wi.s read : 

" War-office, July 30th, 1805. 
" 56th regiment of foot : Brevet Lieuten- 
ant Colonel Hi-nry Raleigh Knight, 
from the 5th Dragoon Guards, to be 
Major ; vice Brooke who exchanges." 

ANDREW THYNNE, Esq. M.D. 
called In. 
Examined by the Commit tee. 
Did you attend Mis. Clarke in your 
professional line, in July 1805 ? — I have 
attended Mrs. Clarke for the .last seven 
years : I do not recollect that it was in 
July 1805 more than any other time. 1 
have known her for seven or eight yeai's, 
and in different situations. I have at- 
tended her when she was ill. 

Did you ever, by the desire of any 
pei'son, apply to Mrs. Clarke respecting 
an exchange between Lieut. CoL Knight 
and Lieut. Col. Brooke ? — I have ap- 
plied to Mrs. Clarke respecting the ex- 
change of Lieut. Col. Knight and Lieut. 
Col. Brooke. The application I made 
was in consequence of an application 
made to me by an old and valuable 
friend, Mr Robert Knight, the brother 
of the lieutenant colonel. He under- 
stood I was acquainted with Mrs. 
Clai'ke ; he begged I would speak to 
her to expedite the exchange ; and I 
did speak to Mrs. Clarke upon the 
subject, and delivered her the message 
I got from Mr. Knight and his brother 
the lieutenant-colonel, to whom 1 was 
then introduced. 

What passed upon that subject be- 
tween Mrs. Clarke and yourself?-^! was 
authorised to tell Mrs. Clarke she would 
receive a certain sum of money : I spe- 
cified the sum of 2001. 

For what was that sum specified ; 
upon what event was that sum offered ? 
— It was offered for the purpose of in- 
ducing Mrs. Clarke to expedite the ex- 
change. The exchange was to take 
place in the office in a certain length of 



time ; it began in the office : some de- 
lays and impediments were expected, 
and in order to remove those impcdi" 
ments and those delays I was authorised 
to say that such a sum would be given 
to her, if she would exert herself to ex- 
pedite this exchange. 

Tlirough wliat medium was it expect- 
ed siie should obtain that exchange >. — I 
am sure I cannot answer that question : 
I should suppose it was pretty welk 
known that she was acquainted with a 
great personage at that time : I know 
nothing about that. I was desired to de- 
liver a message, and T did nothing more, 
than deliver a message from an old 
friend to Mrs. Clarke, to induce her to 
expedite an exchange between two of- 
ficers. 

Was it not under the consideration 
and conviction of her at that time being 
under the protection of the commander 
in chief that such application was made 
to her? — Of course, if Mrs. Clarke was 
not thought likely to expedite the thing, 
no application would have been made Xo 
her. 

I understand you expressly to have 
stated,that you offered her 2001. for ex- 
pediting this exchange : I wish to ask 
how many days, to the best of your re- 
collection, passed between the applica- 
tion and the exchange being notified in 
the Gazette ! — I really cannot be accu- 
rate in that respect, for it made so little 
impression on my mind, that I merely 
recollect having delivered the message. 
I was anxious to oblige my friend Mr. 
Robert Knight, but it did not concent 
me, and I cannot bring my mind to tell 
the exact jieriod between the ap])lica- 
tion and tlie Gazette ; but I believe it 
was a good deal expedited byMrs.Clai'ke. 
Do you think, to the best of your re 
collection, it occurred within a few day; 
or a week ? — I pi-otest I cannot bear il 
in mind, but I believe a fortnight or 
three weeks elapsed before it was done. 
I cannot speak positively to that. 1 had 
nothing to do with the transaction b^t; 



barely to deliver that message, and that 
message made no impression whatever 
upon my mind. 

Did Mrs. Clarke communicate to you 
the circumstance of the exchange being 
gazetted ? — Mrs. Clai'ke sent the Ga- 
zette to my house in consequence of the 
message 1 delivered to her from Mr. 
Knight : the moment J received thp Ga- 
zette I sent it to the parties. No money 
ever passed through my hands. If Mrs. 
Clarke received money, she received it 
through some other quarter. I solemn- 
ly declare that no money passed through 
my hands whatever. I sent the Ga- 
zette to the parties, and what they did 
with the Gazette I do not care. 

Did Mr. Robert Knight alone author^ 
ize you to offer the 2001. or was Lieut. 
Col. Kniglit a party to that offer ?— I 
was entirely influenced by Mr. Robert 
Knight : his lady was an old patient of 
mine : he was always a great friend of 
mine. I had nothing to refuse Mr. Ro- 
bert Knight. Lieut. Col. Knight J knew 
little of at this time : I was introduced 
*to him by his brother : but I was cer- 
tainly influenced by Mr. Robert Knight, 
and by nobody else. 

Is tlie Committee to understand that 
Lieut. Col. Knight was present when this 
authority was given to you to offer the 
2001. ? — I am sure I cannot answer that, 
for I saw Mr. Robert Knight at his own 
house, sometimes privately, and some- 
times in the company of his brother ; and 
tlic transaction made so little impression 
upon my mind, that after a lapse of three 
or foiu* years it is not possible for me to 
relate all the circumstances ; but I was 
influenced by Mr. Robert Knight, who, 
as a man, I have the greatest esteem and 
regard for to this hour. 

Did you request Mrs. Clarke to apply 
to the Duke of York for the purpose of 
expediting the exchange of Lieut. Col. 
Knight, in consideration of the 2001. she 
was to receive I — I do not exactly under- 
stand the question : I beg to have it ex- 
plained. 

Whether j'ou requested of Mrs. Clarke 
to apply to the Duke of York to expe- 
dite this exchange between Lieut. Col. 
Knight and Col. Brooke, and in conse- 
quencp of that application told her she 
would receive tlie 2001. ? — The thing is 
understood : I cguld not have applied, 
fior shoul4 not have applied to Mrs. 
Clarke, unless she had the means of ex- 
pediting the thing : it was understood at 
the time that she had th^ paeans. 



How did you understand that Mr?. 
Clarke possesedthe means of expediting 
that exchange ? — It was understood at 
the time that she had some influence. 

[The witness was directed to with- ^ 
draw.] 

£The witness was again called in, and 
was directed by the chairman, in his an- 
swer to the questions put to him to 
answer to facts within his absolute 
knowledge, and not to his understand- 
ing or surmise- 
Did you or not request Mrs. Clarke to 
apply to the Duke of York to expedite 
that exchange ? — I applied to Mrs.Clarke 
to beg of her to interest herself on be- 
half of Lieut. Col. Knight, and to expe- 
dite the exchange. 

Did you or not apply to Mrs. Clarke 
to request her to apply to the Duke of 
York to expedite that exchange ? — Yes 
I did so, I acknowledge that, if she had 
it in her power. 

Was it for that purpose the 2001. was 
offered to Mrs. Clarke ? — For that sole 
purpose. 

In this conversation was tlic Duke of 
York's name personally mentioned ? — ^I 
am sure I cannot recollect : I cannot 
take upon myself to say so.: It is impos- 
sible for mc to recollect every circura". 
stance of a message delivered b-tween 
three and four years ago. 

Was your application to Mrs. Clarke 
merely to expedite the exchange, with- 
out mentioning the manner in which it 
was to be expedited ? — Certainly with?- 
out mentioning tlie particular manner : 
it was to facilitate and expedite the ex- 
change. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 
[The witness was called in again. 

Whom did- you mean to refer to in 
the expression, a great personage, which 
you used early in your examination ? 
[The witness was directed to witlidraw. 

[Tlie v/itness was again called in, and 
the following question and answer were 
read to him. 

Through what medium was it expect- 
ed that she should obtain that exchange? 
— I am sure I cannot answer that ques- 
tion : 1 should suppose it pretty well 
known that she was acquainted with a 
great personage at that time : I know 
nothing about tliat. I was desired to de- 
liver a message, and I did nothing more 
than deliver a message from an old friend 
to Mrs. Clarke, to induce her to expe- 
dite an exchange between two officers. 



^5 



Who was that gi*eat personage 1 — It 
Vr&s understood the commander in chief. 

At the time you spoke of this exchange 
to Mrs. Clarke, did you give the names 
in writing to Mrs. Clarke ? — I believe I 
did upon a slip of paper, and upon that 
paper, I believe I wrote, Lieut. Colonel 
Knight wishes to exchange with Lieut. 
Col. Brooke : if I did not write it down 
Inyself, she wrote it : it was given in 
writing. 

Subseq^uentto your application to Mi's. 
Clarke, did she at any time communi- 
cate to you that she had used her influ- 
ence for the purpose expressed, with 
the Duke of York ? — I do not know that 
1 had seen Mrs. Clarke from the first 
communication till slie had sent the 
Gazette to my house : that Gazette 
proved that the exchange was effected, 
and 1 sent to the parties ; and that is all 
I had to do witJb tlie transaction. 

When that Gazette was sent by Mrs. 
Clarke, did she communicate to you that 
it was by her means the exchange had 
been obtained ? — Mrs. Clarke accompa- 
nied the Gazette with a note, to say tliat 
the exchange was accomplished, and 
that she was going out of town in a day 
or two, and that tlie 2001. would be very 
Convenient. 

Are you certain that those were the 
whole contents of the note I — That was 
the impression upon my mind at the 
time. This is a transaction between 
three and four years ago, and having 
thought so little about it, I cannot be 
supposed to know all the circumstan- 
ces : but I recollect receiving a note and 
a Gazette : tlie Gazette I sent to the 
parties : and I cannot recollect anything 
more than 1 have stated. 

Since that period has Mrs. Clarke ev- 
er communicated to you, that it was by 
her means it was obtained ? — Mrs.Clarke 
never said any thing to mc more th.nn 
sending the Gazette : for, from my first 
application to the receipt of the Gazette, 
1 do not recollect having seen Mrs. 
Clarke ; or if I did see her, it was mere- 
ly to enquire whether any progress was 
making in the exchange. 

Has any communication of that kind 
been made since the sending the Ga- 
zette ? — I do not recollect having any 
such communication : at the same time I 
belieVe it was expedited by her means. 

Have you preserved that note ? — No, I 
have not preserved it, certainly ; I consi- 
dered the note as one not concerning me, 
and I sent it to tlxe parties whh the Ga- 
zette* 



[The witness M-as directed to witlulra\tf. 

[The witness was again called in. 

The chairman, by desire of the 

committee, repeated the caution to 

.# the witness to speak only to his 

own knowledge. 

Had you any reason, besides your own 
surmise, for believing that this exchange 
was expedited by the interference of 
Mrs. Clarke ? 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

[The witness was again called in, and 
the question was proposed.] 

If I recollect right, I understood that 
the exchange would be obtained in the 
regular way, in the course of time ; but 
Mr. Knight, whether from ill health, or 
what othffr reason I know not, was de- 
sirous of having it done expeditiously ; 
and it was in consequence of that, and 
his brotiier's wish, that I applied to Mrs. 
Clarke in the first instance. 

Have you any reason but your own 
surmise for believing that this exchange 
was expedited by the interference of Mrs. 
Clarke ? — No other reason on earth. 

\Vhon 3-ou made this application, did 
you not know that Afrs. Cl.irke was liv- 
ing with tho Duke of York, and immedi- 
ately under his protection ? — It was so 
undcr.stood at the time. 

Did you ever see the commander in 
chief at Mrs. Clarke's ? — Never. 

Of your own knowledge, do you know 
of such a relative situation between 
those two parties ? — I never saw the 
Duke of Y^ork there in my life. 

Do you recollect the manner in which 
the proposition was at first made, en- 
gaging Mrs. Clarke's interest ? — When 
1 first spoke to Mrs.Clarke, she seemed 
to suppose there were some difiiculties 
in the way, and she .spoke a good deal 
about secrecy, and of the danger she 
should run if this ever transpired. 

Do you recollect what words she used, 
when she expressed that sentiment? — 
It is impossible for me, at this length of 
time, to recollect the precise words, but 
the meaning I am clear in. 

You have said that Mrs. Clarke ex- 
pressed a great desire that it should be 
kept secret : did she mean secret from 
theDuke of York as well as tiie rest of the 
world ? — That is matter of surmise. 

Did you not understand from Mr. 
Knight that the exchange alluded to was 
in a train of being efi'ected previous to 
Mrs. Clarke's Interest l)eing solicited ? — 
I understood the thin"- would have hap- 
pened in the course of time. Mr. Knight 



wislied lo liave the thiiijj expedited, I 
know not from what motive ; and it was 
to expedite it that he begg^ed of me to 
speak to Mrs. Clarke. The excliange 
was a simple fair thing, as I supposed, 
and would have gone through the office 
in a regular way. 
QThe witness was directed to withdraw. 

ROBERT KNIGHT, Esq. was called. 
Examined by tlie Committee. 

Did you desire Dr. Thynne to use his 
inHucncc with Mrs. Clai'ke to have an 
exchange between your brother Lieut. 
V.o\. Knight, and Lieut. Col. Brooke, 
carried into eflect ? — I did. 

Did you authorise Dr. Thynne to hold 
out any personal temptation to Mrs. 
Clarke, to induce her to carry the 
point ? — Yes. 

To what amount ilid you autliorise 
Dr. Thynne to oft'er Mrs. Clarke ? — Two 
hundred pounds. 

After the exchange was effected, did 
you, by yourself or any otlier person, 
give any sum of money to Mrs. Clarke, 
—Yes. 

To what amount ?— 2001. 

Had Col. Knight any positive promise 
from the commander in chief for this 
exchange with Col. Brooke, prior to 
such application to Mrs. Clarke ? — My 
brother applied in the regular way to 
the Duke of York, and received the 
usutd official answer on the subject, that 
whenever a proper successor could be 
fovmd, there would be no objection to 
ll>e exchange taking place. 
1^ The witness was directed to withdraw. 

[The witness was again called in, and 
was directed by tlie chairman to an- 
swer only to circumstances within 
his own knowledge. 

Do you know of any positive promise 
of the commander in chief prior to the 
application to Mrs. Chu-ke, that that 
exchange should take place ? — No. 

Where was the application made to 
Mrs. Clai'ke ? — There was some delay in 
the business, from what cause I do not 
know, and I stated that circumstance to 
Dr. TJiyime, wlio happened to be attend- 
ing my family at tlie time. He replied, 
that he thought he. could be of service, 
by applying to a friend of his, Mrs. 
Clarke. I told him I should be mucli 
©bliged to him if he would apply to her, 
and that I should be happy to give 2001. 
if the l)usii\ess could be eHected, as my 
brother was in a very bad state of liealth 
at the time, and I w .•»>; verv Jesirous tkat 



he should exchange to infantry, for the 
purpose of going upon half-pay, that he 
might recover his health. I believe he 
had served as long as any man in the 
country of his age, and suffered by it : 
he had served twenty -three years, and I« 
believe he has been in every battle dur- 
ing the French revolution ; and it was my 
anxiety to serve him tliat has placed me 
in this painful and distressing situation. 

How tlid you send the 2001. to Mrs. 
Clarke ? — Under a blank cover, as far as 
my recollection serves me, by my serv- 
ant. I do not tliink that I made any ob- 
servation in the enclosure, but directed 
it simply to hej-. 

Did you see Mrs. Clarke soon after 
the notice in the Gazette tliat the ex- 
change was effected, and for what pur- 
pose ? — I saw her, I think, in the month 
of September, for the purpose of thank- 
ing her. 

Upon that occasion did Mrs. Clai-kc 
desire yo\i to be secret with respect to 
this transaction ; and did she assign any 
and what reason for that secrecy ? — She 
did intreat me to keep it a secret, lest it 
should come to tlie Duke of York's ears. 

Have you seen Mrs. Clarke within the 
last month, and how did it happen that 
you saw her ? — She wrote to beg that I 
would come to her, about a month ago ; 
to which letter 1 made no reply. She 
wrote a second letter, as far as my re- 
collection serves me, about ten days ago. 
I went to her, and she asked me the name 
of the officer wlio had exchanged with 
my brother : I told her. She made a 
number of complaints of her having 
been ill treated by the Duke of York ; 
that he had deserted her, and left her in 
debt, I think to the amount of 20001. ; 
and that she was determined, unless she 
could bring- him to terms, to expose him 
in the manner in which she is now en- 
deavouring to do. I said tliat that was 
her affiiir, but that I trusted she would 
not introduce either me or my brother. 
She said, O good God, no by no means, 
it is not my intention : you can have 
nothing at all to do with it. That pass- 
ed in the drawing-room, and I took my 
leave, and heard nothing of her since ; 
and I was very much surprised to hear 
of my name being mentioned in the way 
in which it has. I was thunderstruck at 
its being done without any notice. 

Had Col. Brooke's name been men- 
tioned to tlie Duke of York to exchange 
with your brother, previously to the 
application to Mrs. Clarke ?— I think I 



35 



have already replied that the application 
was made in tlie re^-ular way. I do not 
know it : but by a reftrence to the office 
the papers will speak for themselves. 
I cannot speak from my own knowledge 
to that. 

You^ have stated, that your reason for 
applying to Mrs. Clarke, was, that a de- 
lay existed in the exchange taking' place ; 
do you, of your own knowledge, know 
where those delays took place, in what 
office ? — In the Duke of York's office, I 
suppose. 

Can you state in what department of 
the office ? — I fancy that Col. Gordon 
was secretary at the time. 

You have mentioned that you sent tlie 
bank notes in a cover by your servant ; 
at what time of the day did you send 
those notes ? — I am pretty sure it was in 
the former part of the day, rather early 
in the morning. 

Were they bank notes that were sent ? 
— That T cannot charge my memory with. 

Was it one or two notes ? — Upon my 
woi-d I cannot venture to say, but I ra- 
ther think in two bank notes. 

Can you say from whom you received 
the bank notes ? — Upon my word I can- 
not, it is a long while ago, nearly four 
years. 

How long was this before your brother 
was gazetted ? — The sending was after 
he was gazetted. 

How long before your brother was 
gazetted did you speak to Dr. Thynne ? 
—I should think the negotiation went on 
near a fortnight, or from a fortnight to 
three weeks, as far as my recollection 
serves me. 

Did you ever receive any note from 
Mrs. Clarke with the gazette ? — No, it 
was from Dr. Thynne I received the 
communication. 

Dii you receive any letter from Dr. 
Thynne ? — That I do not recollect. 

From Mrs. Clarke to Dr. Thynne ? — 
No, I do not think that 1 saw any letter. 
Did you ever receive any letter from 
Mrs. Clarke except what you have men- 
tioned in your former evidence ? — I have 
received several letters from her subse- 
quent to the transaction. 

Respecting this transaction ? — No, I 
do not think I received any from her re- 
specting this transaction. 

Did you receive any answer to the 
note transmitting the bank notes ? — No. 

Did your brother, to your knowledge, 
ever apply to the commanding officer of 
the 56th regiment, to recommend the 

6 



exchange to Uie commander in chief ?— 
I do not know : I believe he did ; I am 
pretty sure that he did. , 

Do j'ou recollect about what time ?■•■! 
Upon my word, I do not. 

Did you receive from Dr. Thynne the 
Gazette containing the account of the 
exchange ? — It now occurs to me that I 
went to the office for the Gazette myself, 
somewhere about Chancery-Lane. I got 
it myself from the Gazette office. 

How long a time elapsed between the 
first application being made at the com- 
mander in chief's office, and the second 
application to Mrs. Clarke through Dr. 

Thynne ? 1 think, as I said before* 

about from a fortnight to throe weeks. 

How long a time elapsed between the 
first application being made at the com- 
mander in chief's office, and the second 
apjilicaticn to Mrs. Clarke through Dr. 
Thynne ? — Upon my word, I cannot ex- 
actly say. 

About what time ? It might have 

been ten days, but I cannot speak accu- 
rately. 

You have .stated, that you went to the 
Gazette office to fetch the Gazette ; had 
you any reason to suppose that the ex- 
change would be announced in that par- 
ticular Gazette, or did you go up6n 
every publication to fetch the Gazette, 
to see whether it was inserted ?— I think 
I went three times in the whole. 

In point of fact, before this transaction 
took place, had you ever leai'ned from 
Mrs. Clarke that she did apply to his 
Royal Highness the commander in chief 
to expedite this exchange ? — I cannot 
tell ; I did not become acquainted with 
her till after the exchange was notified ir^ 
tlie Gazette ; about six weeks afterwards. 

In the conversations you have since had 
with Mrs. Clarke, did you ever under- 
stand from her, that she had, in fact, ap- 
plied to the commander in chief to expe- 
dite the exchange ? — Of course, she took 
credit to herself for expediting the busi- 
ness. 

You have no reason for presuming it, 
but that she took that credit ; you do 
not know that she actually applied I — I 
am not bound to draw inferences. 

Did you ever learn from Mrs. Clarke, 
that she actually applied ! — She told me 
she had applied, certainly, when I saw 
her in September. 

To whom did she say she had applied ? 
—To the Duke of York. 

At the time she said she had applied 
to the Dulte of York, were the Duke of 



iH 



Yol'k And slic livinfj upon terms r — I do 
\\o{ know (hatot'iny own knowledge. 

\Vlun lliis conversution took place, did 
Mrs. Clarke reside in Gloucester-pluce ? 
—Yes. 

Was it after she said she had applied 
to the Duke of York, that she requested 
the transaction might be kept secret ? — 
Yes, it was arter, certainly. 

In point of fact, did you send the 2001. 
to Mrs, Clarke for any other reason than 
her interference in expediting the ex- 
chan};^e ? — 1 certainly sent it her to do all 
ill her power to accelerate the exchange. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 
[The witness was again called in. 

Did not Dr. Tljynnc transmit to you 
a Gazette, after the exchange had taken 
place between your brother anil Col. 
Brooke ? — I do not know but he might. 

Was that accompanied with any note 
from Mrs. Clarke to Dr. Thynne ? — I do 
not remember that it was. 

Was it after you had sent tlie 2001. to 
Mrs. Clarke, that Mrs. Cliu-ke expressed 
her desire that it should be kept secret ? 
— Cerliunly. 

M as the fact which Mrs. Clarke de- 
sired should be kept secret from the 
Duke of York, the receipt of tlio 2001. 
which you sent her ? — Yes. 

Did she expressly desire you to conceal 
from the Duke of York your having p.aid 
her 2001. ; did she use tliose words, or 
as nearly as you can recollect, what 
words did she use ? — Slie requested tliat 
the whole business might be kept a secret. 

Did she exjjress herself pai'ticularly, 
during the conversation, as to the money, 
or was it one general conversation as to 
the transaction itself ! — As to tlie trans- 
action itself 

Was that wish of Mrs. Clarke that tlie 
matter might be kept secret, at tlie laat 
interview you had witli her, about ten 
days ago ? — No, it was in the month of 
September, 1805, subsequent to tlie 
transaction in qvicstion. 

How long previously to that interview 
had the nioney been ti'.insmitled ? — It 
was the day atler the transaetion was 
notified in the Gazette ; I believe, tlie 
next morning. 

Did Mrs. ("larke, in expressing a wish 
that the ti'ansaction might be kept secret, 
express a wish tliat tlie Duke of York 
might not know that you had any tiling' 
to do with it ? — Certainly. 

Was not lier wish expressed, that it 
might be kept a secret from the public ? 
—From luDi, tlie Duke of York. 



Repeat, as nearly as possible, the con» 
versation tliat passed upon that subject. 
— Upon my word, I do not see how 1 can 
exactly ; it is a long while ago. It is im- 
possible that 1 sliould repeat her words. 

What exjiression did Mrs. Clarke use, 
that you now recollect, which enables, 
you to state that it was not from the 
public, but from the Duke of York him- 
self, that she wished it to be kept se- 
ci-et ? — She begged it might be kept a 
secret from tlie Duke ot York. I do 
not know how to shape my answer in any 
other way ; it is impossible to recollect 
every word that passed four years ago. 

Did she add to that request, or did 
she join with that request, that your 
having any thing to do with it might be 
kept from the Duke of York ? — She was 
anxious that the whole transaction might 
be kept from !iim. 

Did she say, or give you to understand 
directly, tliat the Duke of York would 
object to your being a party in the trans- 
action, more, probably, tlian to any other 
person ?— No. 

Do you know that this exchange took 
place in consequence of your application 
to Mrs. Clarke ? — I caimot say that I 
know it ; it is impossible that I can say 
that, for the application had been in the 
war-office some time previous to the 
transaction with Mrs. Clarke ; I shoidd 
think it must have been in the office 
from ten days to a fortnight, but I can- 
not speak ex.ictly ; but tliat is a fact very 
easily got at by reference to the war- 
office ; the correspondence is to be found, 
no doubt. 

Did you ever ask Mrs. Clarke whether 
she applied to his Koyal Highness the 
Duke of York to expedite tiie exchange ? 
— It does not occur to my mind tliat I 
asked lier that question. 

Did she ever say tliat she had applied 
to tlie Duke of York ? — I understood 
that she had applied to tlic Duke, most 
certainly. 

Did Mrs. Cl.ai'ke appear more anxious 
that the transaction might be kept a se- 
cret from the Duke of York than from 
the public ? — The public was never men- 
tioned in the business. 

Was the Gazette, which was transmit- 
ted to you from Dr. Thynne, transmitted 
in a blank cover, or with any letter 
from the Doctor ? 1 do not remem- 
ber. 

When Mrs. Clarke told you, that im- 
less the Duke of York made terms, she 
would expose him -, did she state what 



lAeasures she was taking to expose the 
Duke of Yoik ?— No. 

Do j'ou recollect tlic expressions that 
she made use of ?— She stated thut she 
had been ill treated by him, anddcserted% 
by him, and left in debt; and that if he 
did not pay those debts (I understood her 
so, however) she certainly would expose 
liim. 

Do you recollect whether you or Dr. 
'rhynne first mentioned the name of 
Mrs, Clarke, in the conversation you had 
tog-ether ? — I tliink it was Dr. Thynne ; 
I became acquainted with her through 
him. 

Was the interview you had in Sep- 
tember 1805 the first personal interview 
you had with Mrs. Clarke ? — Yes ; but 
I will not be positive as to its being Sep- 
tember ; it might have been tiie latter 
end of August ; it was the latter end of 
the year. 

That was the first interview you h*ad 
with her ? — Yes, it was. 

Where <lid Mrs. Clarke reside when 
J'OU sent the 2001. to her ?— I have al- 
ready stated, in Gloucester-place. 

Had you any particular reason for 
sending the money early in the morning ? 
— No, no particular reason ; I should 
hfive been sorry to have disturbed the 
family. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw, 

A member present observing that it 
would be proper to examine the com- 
manding officer of the 56th regiment ; 
general the hon. Chappie Norton said ; — 
" I cannot speak to time ; but colonel 
Knight certainly applied to me, and ex- 
plained himself very fully and very sat- 
isfactorily to me, or I should not have re- 
commended the exchange which I 
did. 

Mrs. MARY ANN CLARKE was 

called in, and 

Examined by the Committee. 

Did you reside in Gloucester-place, In 
a house of the Duke of York's in July 
1805 ?— Yes I did. 

Did you live under his protection ?-• 
Yes I did. 

Do you recollect Dr, Thynne about 
that period attending you in his profes- 
sional line ? — He attended me, I believe, 
about that time. 

Do you recollect that an application 
was made to you by Dr. Thynne, to 
cflect an exchange between Lieut. Col. 
Knight and Lieut. Col. Brooke ? — Yes I do. 

Do you recollect that he urged gteat 
(lispatch ?— Yes. 



Did he hold out any expectation of a 
pecuniary compliment, provided you ef- 
fected the exchange ? — Certainly he did. 

Do you recollect his mentioning anv 
particular sutn I — Yes, 1 think he dii 
say something about a couple of hundred 
pounds. 

Do you recoUcrt that Dr. Thynne told 

you, that Col. Knight l)ud been long en- 

dcavouring to get the excJiange ? — Yes, 

1 do. 

[Tlie witness was directed to withdraw. 

[The witness was called again. 3' 

Did you afterwards speak to the com- 
mander in chief upon the subject ;— .Yes,i" 
1 did. 

How did you mention the business to 
him ? — I told him of it, and I gave him 
the slip of paper that Dr. Thynne gave 
me, with their names, just after dinner. 

Did you at the same time state to the 
commander in chief, that you were to 
have any jiecuniary adv:uitage, provided 
the exchange took place ? — His Royal 
Highness asked me if I knew the parties, 
and I said I did not : that they would 
make me a compliment. 

Did you state the amount of the comi 
plimcnt you were to have ? — I am not 
certain that I did. 

Arc you certain that you mentioned to 
the commander in chief, that you were 
to have any pecuniary compliment ? — 1 
told his Royal Highness that I did not 
know the men at all, and certainly they 
would make me some sort of compli- 
ment ; I did not know them then. 

When the exchange appeared in the 
Gazette, do ybu recollect sending it to 
Dr. Thynne ? — Yes 1 do. 

Do you recollect sending any note 
with that Gazette ?— -Yes. 

Do you recollect afterwards receiving 
any pccuinary consideration ?-^Yes I do. 

How much ? — A 2001. bank note was 
sent me. 

How was that 2001. bank note sent 
you ? — It was sent me inclosed in a note, 
with Dr. Thynne's compliments. 

Do you mean to say tliat the person 
who brought it, brouglit compliments or 
that there were any written compli- 
ments ? — 1 think it was written in tlio 
note. 

After receiving the 2001. do j'ou re- 
collect at any time making the circumf 
stance known to the commander in 
chief? — Yes 1 do. 

When did you mention it to him f-™ 
The same day. 

What passed upon the subject ?-^I 



3^^ 



only merely said that they had kept their 
l)roiniac. 

Did tlie commander in chief know 
from you tlio amotmt of the money yOu 
liad received ? — lie knew the amount, 
because 1 sliowed him the note ; and I 
think thill I j^ot one of his servants to get 
it exchanged for me through his Royal 
Highness. 

Wlu-re Avercj you immediately before 
^fou c:ime to *' "^ bur of this House ? — In 
jomo room about this place. 

Did you see any, and what, people 
jhcrc whom you knew ?. — I saw captain 
ft'homHon there ; Mr.i. Metcalfe, the 
wife of Dr. Metcalfe ; Miss Olinbrd, the 
lady who Was with me j Mr. Wardle 
came in for u minute -, Dr. Thynne 
and his sou. 

Dill any, and what, conversation pass 
bet ween you and Mr. Wardle ? — None. 

Not a word ? — He asked mc how I 
did, and spoke to a lady tlicre. 

No other conversation passed between 
you and him ? — None. 

lias .my conversation passed between 
yon and Dr. Tliynne, since he has been 
pxim ned in this House ? — Yes, he has 
been sitting witli mencarly ever since. 

To wiiat purpose was tluit conversation 
between you ? — Not at .dl relative to this 
business ; it has not been addressed to 
me, it lias been addressed to tlie two 
ladies willi mo intirely. 

Repeat as nuieh of that conversaticm ns 
jfou can recollect. — I could not repeat 
after Dr. Tliynne ; if his chaiMcter is 
known at all to the gentlemen here, it 
would be very indelicate ; he has merely 
been laugliing at the gentlemen here. 

Do you know Mr. llobert Knight, and 
how long Inivi- you known him ? — I know 
Mr. Holu-rt Knight ; he took ta\ oppor- 
tunity of calling upon mo, to ihank. me 
forgetting his !)rother so quickly through 
the business, soon after I came to town, 
Hbout a month or six Weeks afterwards, 
ia company with Mr. Uiddulph. 

Wiis it in the month of September ?— 
1 do not know exactly the montli, it was 
SO(m after. 

What was the conversation which pas- 
sed between you at that meeting i — It is 
so long since, it is impossible for me to 
ivcolU'ct ; but Mr. Knight thanked me 
IHt getting the exchange for his brothcip, 
as he hail bt-en trying some months be-, 
fore, and 1 did it so very quickly ; and 
Mr. Biddulph liad some favour to ask me. 
Did vou, iipiyi that occasion, desire 
Mr. Uooert Knight to keep secret this 



transaction ?— Yes ; I should tliink tliat I 
did, certainly I should say that ; I do not 
recollect saying it, but it is very likely 
th»t I did. • 

Do you recollect expressing a wish 
that it might be kept secret, lest it should 
come to the eo-vs of hi.4 Royal Highness 
the Duke of York ?— O no, never. 

Or any thing to that effect .'—Nothing 
like it. 

Are you quite sure of that ?-r-Po8itive. 

When you mentioned to the Duke of 
York, that you were to receive a com- 
l)liment for promoting the exchange of 
commissions between those officers, did 
his Royal Highness make any remark 
upon that ; and if he did, what was it ? — 
He told me that he knew the business 
very well, that they had been trying at 
it some time, and that he thought one of 
them was rather a bad subject ; but he 
would do it. 

Wiien )'T)u mentioned to the Duke of 
York, after the exchange had taken 
place, tliat you had received a compli- 
ment, aJid shewed him the note of 
which that compliment consisted, did his 
Royal Highness then make any obser- 
vation ? — Not that I recollect ; it was tiu- 
ished. 

At what time was tliis application first 
made to you ? — Two or three days before 
it tobk place, or a couple of days. 

Was it not gazetted on tlia Saturday I 
— I do not recollect. 

Can you be sure it was not more than 
three days before it was gazetted, that 
the application was made to you 1 — I do 
not think it was. I think I might guess 
at the time of the year. 

What time of tlio year was it .'~Hls 
Royal Highness was going to Weymouth 
on the night that 1 changed the note, 
which was the reason that I got the note 
changed ; my servants could not get it 
changed, and his servsmtsgot it changed 
for me. Lortl Chesterfields family was 
going down, and he was going to be god- 
father to Lord Chesterfield's child : it 
was the end of July or the beginning of 
August. 

AN' hen did you first mention this trans- 
action to col. Wardle P—I mentioned it 
to others before I mentioned it to him. 

Wlicn did you first mention it to col. 
Wardle ?— I do not recollect. 

About how long ago J— It must hare 
been very lately. 

Why do you say that it must have 
been very lately '-.^Because 1 speak from 
the fact. ' 



39 



How long agt> did you first mention it 
to col. Wardle r— I sliould tlunk williin a 
month ; he liad heard it from otlier 
quarters than from me, and attacked me 
upon it. ^ 

Had you any knowledge of col. War> 
die before he attacked you upon it ! — 
Yes, I had. 

What had led to your knowledge of 
col. Wardle before that time ! — Himself 
Are you speaking of a time before the 
attack he made upon you witli respect to 
tliis transaction ? — Yes, I knew him be- 
fore ever he attacked mc upon this sub- 
ject. 

How long ? — I suppose six months. 
Had you ever mentioned the transac- 
tion voluntarily to col. Wardle, till he 
attacked you upon it !— He asked me if 
it was true, and I told him yes. 

Had you stated this voluntarily of 
your own consent to col. Wardle, or only 
in answer to his enquiries ?— When Mr. 
Wardle told me he had heard of it, and 
mentioned the circumstance to me, I 
said yes, it was true ; that was all I said; 
I did not think I should be brought here 
upon it, or I might have been vei'y apt 
to deny it. 

Would you willingly have concealed 
it ] — 1 concealed it from the beginning, 
it was not a public thing ; certainly any 
thing which ought to be private, I have 
sense enough to keep as such. I be- 
lieve Mr. Knight spoke of it himself — it 
had got round. 

Who were those other persons that 
you spoke to of it, besides Mr. Wardle ? 
— A few of my friends, I do not recol- 
lect who ; I am not without friends. 

How came you to mention to a few 
of your friends, whom you cannot re- 
collect, a transaction which you say 
ought to have been kept secret, and 
which you think came forward only from 
Mr. Knight's mentioning it ? — I did not 
aay that I mentioned it, I said that my 
friends mentioned it, and that then I said 
it was all very true. 

When you mentioned this transaction 
to col. Wardle, did you give th|: same 
account of it which you have given 
to-day ? — No, I did not. 

Which was the true account : — Both. 
In what did the two accounts difter ? — 
I do not see that they differ at all, I did 
not enter so into detad as I do now. 

Was the difference between your 
accounts, that you were shorter in the 
account you gave to col. Wardle, th^ in 
the account you have given to-day ?•— 



Considerably. 

Can you recollect the day on which 
Dr. Thynne applied to you ? — The day 
of the month, or the day of the week ? 

Either ? — I do not, it was stich a 
trifling affair. ■' 

Cannot you tax your recoUectioti upon 
either one or the other f^^Not ujion such 
a trifling occasion. 

Have you not told col. Wardle on 
what day Dr. Thynne applied to you ? — > 
No, I have not. 

Did not you tell col. Wardle that the 
application was made to you on a Thurs- 
day, and that it was gazetted on the Sa- 
turd.ay ? — No, I did not ; I might as 
well have said Tuesday as Thursday, I 
do not recollect any thing about days or 
dates. 

Have you told the House now, all 
that you told col. Wardle upon the sub- 
ject ? — I have answered that before ; I 
h.ive told the House more than I have 
told him a great deal ; I told them that 
I did not go into detail with him, and I 
have with the house. 

Have you told the House every thing 
that you mentioned to him ?— Upon 
what subject ? 

Upon this subject ?— Yes, I have, and 
a great deal more . 

What have yo.u told the House to-day, 
which you have not told col. Wardle ? — 
I mentioned it but slightly to him, and I 
have told every thing here that I recol- 
lect, except a slight conversation between 
his Royal Higiniess and myRclf, which 1 
suppose it is not necessary to repeat. '"^ 
[The witness was directed to wilhdrAw. 
[The witness was again called in.] 
What circumstances have you men:, 
tioned to the House relative to this 
transaction, wiucli you did not mention to 
col. Wardle ?— -I did not mention to 
col. Wardle that I shewed llie note to 
his Royal Highness, nor did I tell him 
that las Royal Highness got cliaiige for 
it ; it was for me t:bat he got change ; lie 
was going out of town at one oVloClc, 
and 1 at four, and I wanted the change 
to leave some with my servants in town, 
and some I wanted witlv me ; I did not 
enter into that detail witli col. Wardle. 

Is that the only circuiTi.staiice thtdyou 
liave mentioned to the House, and did 
not mention to col. Wardle ?— No, it is 
not. 

State the other circumstances which 
you did not mention to col. Wardle.-^I 
did not say mucli to col. Wardle at all, 
it was very trifling what I mentioned to 



40 



him ; he had heard it from other quar- 
ters, and asked me if it was true, and I 
said yes. 

Had you any intention to have men- 
tioned this, if Col. Wardle had not asked 
you > — It was in conversation it was 
mentioned. 

Should you have mentioned this to 
Col. Wariilc, if Col. Wardle had not 
mentioned it to you ? — Perhaps I mig'ht, 
aiid perhaps I might not. 

Had you any object in mentioning it 
eiUicr to him or to any other person. - 
None whatever. 

Had you any end to accomplish by 
making this known. — Certainly not. 

Have you ever stated that you had 
aiw ground of complaint against his Royal 
Highness. — All my friends know 1 have. 

Have you ever stated to any one that 
you had grounds of complaint against 
his Royal Highness. — To many I have 
stated it. 

Have you not stated, that if his Royal 
Highness did not comply with your de- 
mands, you would expose him. — I told 
Mr. William Adam, in a letter, that if 
he did not fulfil his promises, and the 
Duke's by paying me the annuity, for 
which Mr. Adam was the guarantee, and 
which Mr. Adam promised me should be 
regularly and punctually paid me, that I 
should be necessitated to expose his Roy- 
al Highness' letters : that was all. 

Have you never said, that if his Royal 
" Highness did not come to your tei'ms, 
you would expose him.— No never in 
my life. 

Never to amy one. — Never to any one 
whatever, nor is it willing at all in me 
now. I was very angry in that letter, 
and perhaps Mr. Adam will produce it : 
that goes to the worst part that ever I 
said or acted. 

Is it only in, one letter that you have 
threatened to expose his Royal ^High- 
ness. — Two I have written to Mr. 
Adam : that is all, to any one. 

Were there threats in'both the letters. 
— They are not threats : I solicited. 

Did you say in those letters that you 
would expose his Royal Highness. — Mr. 
Adam, I suppose, has the letters ; andi 
if he is in the house, will perhaps pro- 
duce them. 

Did you accompany your solicitations 
by saying, that if tliey were not complied 
with, you woidd expose the Duke.— I 
do not recollect that I did : but you had 
better ask for the letters. 
Did you Aever make any declaratioi^ 



of that sort to any otlier person.—No, 
never. k 

Did you never state to any other per- li 
son, that if your terms were not com- 
plied with, you would expose the Duke, 
or use any terms to that effect I — I have 
told you befoi-c, I did not. 

Are you quite certain of that ?— Yes, 
quite. 

Did you ever tell Mr. Wardle that 
you wanted this 2001. for a particular 
purpose. — No, I did not. 

Did you not say to Mr. Robert Knight 
that if his Royal Highness did not come 
into your terms, you would expose him ? 
— No, I did not. 

Did you ever say any thing to that 
effect to Mr. Robert Knight.— No, I did 
not : I told him I was going to publish 
the Duke's letters to pay the creditors, 
which his Royal Highness had refused. 
His Royal Highness had insisted that I 
should plead my marriage, to avoid tlie 
debts, or that I might go to prison : that 
was his last message to me. 

When was that message sent ? — I 
should think six weeks or two months 
since : my lawyer can tell, the message 
went to him. 

Who is your lawjer ?— Mr. Comrie- 
was my lawyer . 

AVho was your lawyer then ?—.Mr, 
Stokes, who lives in Golden^square. 

He was your lawyer M'hen that mes- 
sage was sent ? — He received tlie mes- 
sage, and came with it to me. 

Who cai'ried tlie message to him ?--tA 
man in the employ of Mr. William Adam, 
a sort of lawyer. 

Did Mr. Knight pome voluntai'ily to 
you, or did you send for him ?-"I was in 
the habit of writing to Mr. Knight since 
we have been intimate, after the affair of 
his brotlier. I wrote him one or two 
letters, and told him where I lived, and 
told him to call when he came to town. 
I dai'e say he has the letters, which will 
resolve tlie question at once. 

Did you not write to him, to desire 
him to come, particularly on the occa- . 
sion when you told him you should pub- 
lish the Duke's letters ? — No, certaiidy 
I did not. 

Did you not send to him, to desire 
that he would call upon you, and when 
he came, tell him, that you intended to 
publish tlie Duke's letters ?-"! must refer 
you to tlie letters : it was only a (Com- 
mon sort of letter tliat I am in the habit 
perhaps of writing to many more gentle- 
men "besides Mr. Knight. 



41 



ton have mentioned that you wei*e 
advised to plead your marriage : are you 
married ? — It is of no coiisequence at all 
about my husband, that has nothing to 
do with it. Mr. Adam can tell who 1 am. ^ 

Are you a married woman or not ? — 
You have no reason to doubt it. 

[The witness was informed by the 
Chairman that she must give a di- 
rect answer to the question. 

I am a married woman ; there is no 
question which I will not answer, though 
it may' be unpleasant. 

How long have you been married ? — 
I refer you to Mr. William Adam, he has 
my certificate. 

[The Chairman informed the witness 
she must give a direct answer to the 
question. 

How long have you been married ? — I 
believe fourteen or fifteen years. 

Is your husband living ? 1 do not 

know. 

Have you not sworn yourself to be a 
widow ? — His Royal Highness, a short 
time since, when I sent to him to ask 
liim to send me a few hundred pounds, 
sent me word that if I dare speak against 
him, or write against him, he would put 
me into the pillory, or into the Bastile. 
He fiiiicics that I swore myself to be a 
widow woman when I was examined at 
a court martial ; but the Deputy Judge 
Advocate had more feeling than the gen- 
tleman who has examined me now ; he 
told me I might say any thing out of the 
Court which it might be unpleasant to 
me to swear to. I told him it would be 
very improper for me to say that I was 
a married woman, when I had been 
known to be living with the Duke of 
York. I did not swear that I was a 
widow : I said it out of court, and it was 
put into the court-martial Minutes as if 
I had sworn to it, but it was not so. 
The Judge Advocate, to whom I told 
it, is at the door, and I think he had 
better be called in. I know now what 
he has come for. 

Who brought that message from the 
Duke to vou ? — A very particular friend 
of the Diike of York's. 

Who ? — One Taylor, a shoemaker in 
Bond-street, very well known to Mr. 
Adam. 

By whom did you send the request to 
tlie Duke for these few hundreds, to 
which the Duke sent this answer by 
Taylor ? — By my own pen. 

How did you send the letter ?— By 
this ambassador of Morocco. 



What do you mean by this ambassador 
of Morocco ? — The ladies' shoemaker. 

Was it a verbal answer that was 
brought to you, or a letter ? — A verbal 
answer, in Mr. Taylor's own language, 
or the Duke's : I do not know which it 
was exactly, but those were the words 
that passed. 

What is yourhusband's name ?~Clarke. 

What is his christian name ? — Joseph, 
I believe. 

Where were you married to him ?— 
At Pancras : Mr. Adam can tell you. 

[The Chairman stated to the witness 
that he felt it his duty to inform 
hci', that her manner of giving her 
answers was extremely indecent, 
and unbecoming the dignity of the 
House ; and that if persevered in, 
it would call for a heavy censure. 

Have you not said that you were m.ar- 
ried at Berkhampstead ? — I did, when I 
was laughing at Mr. Adam. 

Did you not persevere in that story 
over and over again ? — No, I did not, 
I merely laughed at it. 

Was it true or not, that you were mar- 
ried at Berkhampstead ? — I tell you I 
told it him laughing ; and I told the 
Duke I was making a fool of him when 
I said that ; for which his Royal High- 
ness said he was very sorry, for that he 
was entirely in Mr. Adam's clutches. 

Did J ou make Mr. Adam believe that 
you were married at Berkhampstead ? — 
I do not know what I made him believe. 

Did you not find, from subsequent 
conversations with Mr. Adam, that he 
had believed it, and acted upon it in 
some enquiries that he had made ? — He 
set a man of the name of Wilkinson to 
make some enquiries respecting me ; so 
his Royal Highness wrote me in a letter ; 
but I believe that Mr. Adam, nor no 
one, will go to say there was any thing 
improper in my conduct during the time 
I was under the Duke's protection ; nor 
will his Royal Highness believe it, I am 
certain. 

Did you not represent your husband 
as a nephew of Mr. Alderman Clai-ke ? — 
He told me he was. 

Did you believe that your husband wa.s 
a nephew of Mr. Alderman Clarke ? — 
Yes, I did ; he told me so. 

Did you ever see Mr. Alderman 

Clarke ? 1 never saw any of Mr. 

Clarke's relations but two of his broth- 
ers and his sister : I have seen the Al- 
derman sometimes about, sm any body 
else might have seen him. 



43 



Do you now believe that your husband 
is tlie nepliew of Mi*. Alderman Chirke ! 
—I have never taken any pains to ask 
anv things concerning' him, as I have quit- 
ted him : lie is nothing to me, nor I to 
him : nor have I seen him nearly these 
three years, nor heard of him since he 
broug^ht an action against the Duke, or 
threatened. I saw him about a month 
before that. 

What is your husband ? — He is noth- 
ing — but a man. 

What business ? — No business. 

Was he never any business ? — No, his 
father was a builder. He lives at Ket- 
tering in Northamptonshire. 

Was not he a stone-mason ? — No, he 
was not ; he lives at Kettering with his 
younger brother, who was brought up at 
Cambridge, and his brother's wife : that 
is all I know of him. 

Did you ever live in Tavistock-place ? 
— Yes, I did. 

.When did you live there ? — I do not 
recollect. I lived there with my mother. 

How many years ago ? — I do not re- 
collect. 

When did you go to Gloucester-place ? 
—I do not recollect : I was with the 
Duke in Park-lane, before. 

When did you go to P;-.rk-lane ? — I do 
not recollect. 

How long was it before you went to 
Park-lane tliat you were in Tavistock- 
place ? — I do not recollect. 

Did you live at any other place be- 
tween the time of your living in Tavis- 
tock-place and in Park-lane — I do not 
know : the Duke knows if I did : I might 
have gone to some of his houses, I do 
not know. 

How long did you live in Tavistock- 
place ? — I do not recollect. I did not 
live long there ; I was backwards and 
forwards. 

Was not that before you knew the 
Duke : No, it was not. 

Where did you live wlien first you 
knew the Duke ? — You will excuse me if 
I do not mention it. 

[The Chairman informed the witness 
she must answer the question. 

I do not recollect. 

If you do not recollect, why did j'ou 
desire to be excused from answering the 
question ? — Because I do not recollect it. 

Was your only reason for desiring to 
be excused from answering the question, 
that you do not recollect il ? — Yes, be- 
cause it would be seeming as if I could 
not answer many of tlie questions you 



put to me : I wish to be very fail* and 
very honest. 

Recollect yourself, and say positively 
whether you did not live in Tavistock, 
place before you knew the Duke ? — I ' 
knew the Duke many years before that. 
I do not think it is a fair question at all 
to put to me ivt : you heai* that I am a 
married woman, and I have a family of 
children, and I have a daughter grown 
up. 

Did you not live in Tavistock-place 
before you were under the Duke's pro- 
tection, as you expressed yourself ? — I 
was under his protection : I might have 
lived there : I lived under his protectien 
tliere. 

Do you mean to say you were under 
his protection when first you went to 
Tavistock-place ? — No, I was under my 
mother's ; but I knew him before. 

Did you not live in Tavistock-place as 
a widow ; did you not represent yourself 
as a widow ? — No, never at any place 
whatever ; but at that court martial 
lately I did : I thought it was saving 
myself and my family something; and I 
thought it was saving his Royal Highness 
likewise, he was married also. 

Do you mean to say that you never 
lived in Tavistock-place till you were 
under the protection of the Duke ? — 
No, I say I was there with my mother 
and my children : I knew his Royal 
Highness previous to that, but I did not 
live with him. 

Did you not represent to the trades- 
people who furnished your house there 
that you were a widow ? — Never to any 
one whatever. 

Have you not threatened the Duke, 
that if he would not come into the terms 
you proposed, and pay you wh t you 
required of him, you would put the let- 
ters into the hands of person.? who would 
pay you ? — Would pay me what ? 

That which you required the Duke to 
pay you ? — What is tliat ? Will you be 
so good as to state what I wanted him 
to do? 

Have you not stated, that you had 
put upon paper, or would put upon pa- 
per, the transactions for the last fourteen 
or fifteen yeiU's, and that if he did not 
comply with your demand, that you 
would put that memoir into the hands of 
persons who would publish it ? — No, I 
have not : I cannot recollect what I said, 
but I must beg for the letter, and that 
will covince at once. 

You haVe stated, that you have men- 



43 



iloned llus tl';insaction to some other pei*- 
soHs besides (^ol. Wardle ; who arc tlios.c 
persons > — Indeed 1 do not recollect ; 
my acqiiaiiitiinces ; it might have been in 
a slight sort of way : I did not make r 
talk of it rnyself. 

How long- ago was it that you first 
mentioTied it to Col. Wardlc ? — That must 
have been since I wrote that letter to Mr. 
Adam : 1 did not know Col. Wardle at 
that time : Mr. Adiun sent a messenger 
to me, but I would not see him. 

Wlio has been present besides Colonel 
Wardle, when you have ever mentioned 
tliis transaction to him .' — I do not know 
of any body but my children, or a young- 
lady now and tlien : nobody of auy con- 
sequence—no man. 

To what man have you ever mentioned 
this, except to Col. Wardle ? — To many 
gentlemen : to my acquaintances : 1 do 
not recollect : I do not know. 

Do you know Major Ilog'an ? — Not 
at all : I never saw him in my life, nor 
ever heard of him till 1 read a pamphlet. 
Mr. Greenwootl sent a messajje some 
time since by this same man, Taylor, to 
say that he was very sorry to hear that 
I was acquainted with a Mr. Finnerty. 
I never saw the man in my life. I be- 
lieve about eight or nine years ago, at 
Margate, they said there was some 
newspaper men there, and he was tliA-e. 
That is all that I know. I never saW 
him since. And there is another man 
who writes, who says he is very inti- 
mate with me : I never saw him but 
once, and that was when his Hoyal High- 
ness was with me : that was at my mo- 
ther's. 

Do you recollect the particulars of the 
last conversation which you had with 

Mr. Robert Kniglit ? Yes : he asked 

me who had taken tiie house T was in, 
and if the Duke and I were upon inti- 
mate terms now : it w.is a sort of gener- 
al conversation ; and then the subject of 
the letters came up, and he asked me 
whether his Royal Highness had paid me 
my annuity. I told him no ; that his 
Royal Highness had not taken any fur- 
ther notice of me, nor of the debts ; that 
he had forgotten the annuity, .aitd indeed 
that he had sent me word tliat he 
had never made any ; that the trades- 
people were daily harassing me for the 
debts I had run into when I was under 
his protection, and it was impossible for 
me to plead my marriage to them all, the 
people not being contc^uted ; and that 
1 Would publish Li.s letters, aad g-ive the 

7 



money among the traiDbs-pcoplc. Mr 
Robert Knight then desu-ecl mc, if I wa!} 
going to publish any sort of memoir, that 
I would be sure to sjjare his brotiier. 
That was the heads of the cdnversation 
tliat passed between us. 

Was there any other notice taken, in 
that conversation, of the business that is 
at present under discussion, except Mr. 
Robert Knight requesting you g-enerally 
to spare his brotiier ? — No, certainly not. 

Did you make any encjuiries of Mr. 
Robert Knight, concerning the btisiness 
now under discussion ? — Mr. Knight told 
^me, I believe, as well as I can recollect : 
" Ah, by the bye, you got very well 
over the difficulty that my brother could 
not :" and then I asked him the name 
of the other man ; but 1 knew it before ; 
and what sort of looking man he Was : 
he said he was an Irishulan. 

I understand you to have said, in the 
former part of your examination, that 
Colonel Wardle had mentioned the cir- 
cumstances to you ; and that all the in- 
formation you had given to him, was gen- 
erally, that the circumstances he had so 
mentioned were true : do you still abide 
by tliat answer ! — Yes. 

Have you ever had atiy more than 
one conversation with Colonel Wardle 
upon this matter under discussion ? — No, 
I, have not ; and I hope I never shall 
hear of it any more. 

Arc you in the habit of seeing Colonel 
Wartlle, or have you seen him more fre- 
quently than that occasion when he came 
to enquire into tliose circumstances ? — O 
dear, yes. 

Do you recollect how long ago it wa.s 
th.1t that conversation relating to this bu- 
si)\ess took place between you and Col. 
Wardle ? — I have said before, it could 
not have been long since. 

Has the only conversation you had 
with Col. Wardle, upon this subject, tak- 
en place within these three d:iys ? — No. 

H;is it taken place since Friday last ?— • 
Indeed I do not know : T do not recollect. 
I do not think that it lias. 

Did that conversation take place since 
Friday last ? — No, U) the best of my re- 
collection not. 

Did vou see Col. Wardle on Satui'day 
last ? — I see him very often. I think I 
saw him at the Opera on Saturday. 

Did you see him any wliere else buf at 
the Opera on Saturday ? — He frequently 
calls upon me. 

Did yon know, and when did you 
know, that Col. Wardle h^(J, in tlii? 



44 



House, stated tlie present transaction, 
and mentioned his intention of calling 
upon you as a witness ? — When I saw 
the newspaper. He called upon me 
soon afterwards, and I certainly was 
very angry with him, and we had some 
words, as he had made very free with a 
friend's name of mine, Mr. Donovan, 
without my authority, depreciating his 
services and abilities. Mr. Donovan lias 
been wounded in tlie service of his coim- 
try, and has not been in bed for these 
twenty years, and he is only a lieutenant 
in some garrison battalion. Mr. Wardle, 
one morning when he was calling upoH 
me, took a parcel of letters away from 
me, without my giving him my sanction, 
and that has led more to the business 
than any thing ; and I have never been 
able to get them back since. He laughed 
it off, saying, that he should get into my 
love-secrets. They were letters between 
friends and myself. 

Do you not now recollect, that it was 
on Saturday last that you saw the uevvs- 

Faper that gave you this information ? — 
do not recollect the day at all. 

Did you not see Col. Wardle on Sa- 
tui*day last ? — I see liim almost every 
day ; sometimes every other day, or 
twice a week— I do not recollect— 1 dai«e 
say I did — I am in the habits of seeing 
him often ; but I did not know he was 
going to bring this thing forward ; and I 
told Iiim I would get out of town ; and 
he told me, tliat if tliey caught me any 
where, they woidd put me in prison, and 
I must not show contempt to a summons 
from the House of Commons. 

Did you see Col. Wardle yesterday ? — 
I think I did. 

Have you any dotbt ; are you not cer- 
tain that you saw him yesterday .' — No, I 
did not see him yesteriay. 

Are you certam now that you did not 
8se him yesterday ?— I think that I am ; 
I do not think I was at home all day. 

Did you see Col. Wai-dle on the fore- 
noon of tliis day ? — Yes, I did, two or 
tln-ee times. 

Do you still adhere to your former 
answer, that you have not, witliin these 
three days, or since Friday last, had any 
conversation with Col. Wardle, relative to 
the subject at present under discussion ? 
•—To-day he told m^ Uiat I must come 
here and obey that summons ; and one 
day last week, a few days ago, he told 
me I must abide by what he had done, 
and speak the truth, and if I did not, the 
Wouse would commit mc for contempt ; 



that if I prevaricated at all, and did not 
speak the truth, the House would com* 
mit me, and send me where they had 
sent some sheriffs before. 

You have stated, that his Royal High- 
ness the commander in chief must have 
known you had received a pecuniary 
compliment for the service you had done 
to Col. Knight, because he had seeij a 
note ; did you shew the commander in 
chief that note before or at any other 
time, except when you asked him to ex- 
change it for your own convenience, for 
the distribution of money among your 
servants ? — I shewed it him after dinner 
one day, when I was going out of town 
in the morning, and his Royal Highness 
at night ; I never shewed it him but that 
once, and it was changed on that night. 

By whom was the message concerning 

Finnerty conveyed ? By Taylor ; he 

told me that he had just left Mr. Green- 
wood, who had been just reading one of 
Hogan's pamphlets to him, and that Mr. 
Greenwood told him that he had been 
told by several people, tliat I was con- 
cerned witli all tlie pamphlet writers, 
and among the rest, was very intimate 
with one Finnerty, wliich I denied, as I 
do now. 

Soon after you had received the 2001. 
Mr. Robert Knight and Mr. Biddulph 
called upon you ? — Yes, I do not know 
exactly how soon. I went out of town 
the night after I had received the 2001. 
and staid perhaps a fortnight or three 
weeks, and they called after that time. 
He introduced Mr. Biddulph to me. 

Did Mr. Robert Knight, after that, 
ever call upon you alone at any time, 
soon after you had received the 2001. ? 
Many times alone. 

Did you ever at any time, in conver- 
sation with Mr. Robert Knight,^ eithei- 
when Mr. Robert Knight was alone 
with you, or when any person was with 
you, ever say to him, that you were de- 
sirous that the transaction that had hap- 
pened should be concealed from his 
Royal Highness the Duke of York ? — 
Never in my life ; I never said that, and 
I have so stated before. 

Then, if any body has e\'er said that 
you said so, that accusation is false ; — 
Certainly. 

You have stated, that you sent the 
Gazette, containing the exchange which 
took place, in a note to Dr. Thynne ; 
dq you recollect what was said in tliat 
note ? — No, I do not, very little, I dare 
say, as I sent the Gazette with the note 



45 



You have likewise stated, that the 
2001. was brought to you in a note, with 
Dr. Thynne's compliments ; are you 
certain as to that fact ? — Yes, I think I 
can say positively as to that, because j 
told my own maid to go do\vn and give 
the man who brought the letter a guinea. 

Was the compliments a verbal mes- 
sage, or inserted in the note I — ^I am 
certain the note was irtclosed in an en- 
velope ; I never recollected to speak cer- 
tain as to there being a note on the paper, 
because I thought there was a finish of 
the thing, and that nobody would ever 
call upon me about it, but I think I read 
Dr. Thynne's compliments. 

Do you know who brought that note 
to your house ? — No, it was a man ser- 
vant, and I considered it to be Dr. 
Thynne's servant, as he had spoken to 
me. 

Do you recollect at what time of the 
day it was received ? — In the middle of 
the day- 

You have stated in a former part of 
your examination, that the exchange was 
effected within a very few days after the 
application was made for the exchange ; 
do you allude to the application made by 
Dr. Thynne to you, or the application 
made by you to the commander in chief ? 
— I spoke to his Royal Highness the same 
day, at dinner. 

And the exchange was effected within 
a few days.— Yes, two or thi'ee days. 

Do you recollect how soon after that 
it appeared in the Gazette. — The same 
day as it was eft'ected it was in the Ga- 
zette. 

Had you any reason to desire to con- 
ceal from the commander in chief Mr. 
Robert Knight'sj visits to you ; did you 
ever desire him to conceal his visits from 
the commander in chief. — I never con- 
cealed his visits, or those of any gentle- 
man yho ever visited me, from 4he com- 
mander in chief. 

Were tliose letters you referred to, 
taken away before the time that colonel 
Wardle had the conversation first with 
you upon the subject of this inquiry. — 
Yes, 1 should think they were, because 
it is some time since. 

Do you recollect how long since. — No, 
1 do not ; but there was nothing of Mr. 
Knight's business in those letters. 

Had you any conversation with col. 
Wardle upon the subject of those letters 
before he took them away. — No, I had 
not. 

How happened they to be lying in his 



way. — Because I was looking over ray 
papers, going into a new house ; I had 
removed from my mother's, in Bedford- 
place, to Westbourn-place, and he took 
up those letters, and said he would take 
away the packet of love-letters ; and he 
ran away with them. 

Do you mean seriously to state, that 
col. Wardle took away those letters with- 
out your Ipave, and without your autho- 
rity.— Yes, he did ; but he had run 
away with many others, which I suppose 
had induced him to take those nonsensi- 
cal little notes he had run away with be- 
fore, and then he told me he would give 
me those back again, if I wished it ; that 
they were on a different subject to what 
he imagined them to be ; that he was 
very sorry for it ; but he should take 
care to read them before he gave them 
me back. 

Were those letters, letters^ from his 
Royal Highness to you. — No, there 
might have been one or two of his inter- 
spersed ; but they were Mr. Donovan's 
letters, and othei s. 

Do you mean to say they were not 
the Duke of York's letters that were 
taken away by Mr. Wardle.— No, they 
were not ; he has not let me see them 
once. 

How came you to state, that the 
greatest part of this business has princi- 
pally been occasioned by those letters 
having got into the possession of colonel 
Wardle. — Because he has read them. 

Whose were those letters, that he had 
read, which led to this inquiry. — There 
are more letters than I could really men- 
tion or recollect ; they are from different 
friends of mine, and on different subjects, 
which I suppose led him to make such 
free use of Mr. Donovan's name. 

Do you recollect ever having been of- 
fered any money for the delivery of any 
letters from his Royal Highness, or frojrj 
Mr. Donovan. — Never. 

Did you ever place any letters in the 
hands of any body, with intent to for- 
ward and facilitate any negociation of 
your own. — No, I have not. 

Have you never so said to any body.— 
Except to Mr. Adam, who was the con- 
fidential friend of his Royal Highness. 

Have you never stated, that you had 
put letters in tlie hands of any one, for 
the purpose of facilitating some negoci- 
ation of your own.---No, I have not ; ex- 
cept that once or twice that I wrote to 
Mr. Adam, I never did, nor nevev swd 
it to any one. 



46 



Have you ever, in point of fact, put 
any letter into the hamis of any one, for 
the purpose of faci|it«tinjf any negoci- 
atiou ( f youis— "No, I have not. 

Hiivc you ni;ver written to any one, to 
sav tl ;it von liad so done.— To no one, 
bat "'If. A l;.m. 

Wliat is till n:iiTii3 of the deputy judge 
advociite, to wlioin you have referred,— 
J-Iis* uami; is Sutton. 

At tlio time when you received the 
2001., was (lie Duke of York present in 
.the room. —No, he was not. 

JI')W soon afterwards did you state to 
the l)-ikc of York, that Mr. Knig-lit had 
iulfiUed his nronnse— The same dav. 

Was it on liio same day thnt you de- 
sired his lloyal Highness to get that note 
clianged for you. ---I did not desire his 
Royal lliglmcss to get it changed for 
me I he wished it himself, as I could not 
do it. 

Wiiat was tlic name of the servant by 
whom thalf note was clianged.— I do not 
know, I am sure; it is a very unusual 
thing to ask servants their names. 

WII,l,IAM ADAM, Esq. a Member of 
the House, examined in his place. 
You have heard the account which the 
last \\ itness has given of the part you 
took in this transaction ; will you give 
your own account of it ?— I wish to state 
to the committee, in answer to the 
question jMit to me by the hon. and 
learned gentlemen over against me, tiiat 
I believe, in the year 1789, I 'was de- 
sired by his Koyal Higlniess the Duke of 
York, to look into some concerns of his. 
From tliat time to the present period I 
have continued my attend in to those 
concerns, and I have continued it upon 
the ground that I stated the other night 
to the House ; namely, that it is not 
professional, that it is not attended with 
any emolument whatever, but it has 
been perfectly gratuitous on my part. I 
felt it a duty, when cngagei in it, to 
discharge all of it, and every part of it, 
with as much lidelity and accuracy and 
attention as 1 could. It came to my 
knowledge, late in the year 1805, that 
the liusband of the person who has been 
examined at the bar, threatened an 
action for criminal conversation against 
the Duke of York : it M'as necessary to 
inquire into the circumstances of the 
case ; and it fell to my lot, from the 
cofnmunications which 1 had upon other 
subjects with Ids Royal Highness, and 
ftom the intercourse which had con- 



stantly and invariably subsisted (if I may 
use the expression) between his Uoyal 
Highness antl myself, that I shotdd give 
directions for those inquiries. In the 
cou.se of the directions, and in the mat- 
ter that was laid before me in conse. 
quence of the investigation, 1 had rea- 
son to believe that the conduct of the 
person who has been examined at the 
bar, had not been so correct as it ought 
to have been, and thjit it had a tendency 
to prejudice his Royal Highness's in- 
terests, not his character in a military 
point of view, or in a public capacity, 
but his interests and his name with re- 
gard to money : This led to further in- 
quiry ; and I conceived it to be my 
duty to intimate the result of these things 
to the Duke of York : 1 found the Duke 
of York not inclined to believe that there 
could be any thing wrong in that qu.ar- 
ter, and that he continued of that opi- 
nion almost to the last, till the very close 
of the comiection ; and that the connec- 
tion, as the facts will shew, closed iu 
consequence of his conviction that that 
inve;Uigation had disclosed tiic character 
of the person wlio iiad just been ex- 
amined. The transactions of a pecuniary 
natui-e, which, as i have stated, had 
no relation to any thing like the subject 
of this inquiiy : these transactions came 
to be brought more directly home to his 
Royal Highness's attention by a i'act 
which I could state, if it were fit, ac- 
cording to the rules of evidence ; but it 
would be stating hearsay evid^ice, and 
that, hears.ay evidence of the party 
whose conduct is the subject of inquiry : 
I st.ate it merely to make ray evidence 
inlelligiblc. 1 then directed the inquiry 
more at large, and had an accurate in- 
vestigation made by employing Mr. 
Lowton, an eminent solicitor, who em- 
ployed Mr. Wilkinson, as the person 
that he generally gets to superintend bu- 
siness until it is brought forward in pro- 
per shape, he not having leisure for 
those parts of his business. By Mr. 
Wilkinson, to whom the person at the 
bar alluded, these investigations were 
completed, and when they were com- 
pleted, they were, I tlunk, eitlier 
upon the 6th, 7th, or 8th of May, 1806, 
submitted in detail and in writing to his 
Royal Highness, accompanied with the 
proofs : it was an unpleasant task, be- 
cause it is not pleasant to state to any 
person that which is contrary to their in- 
clinations and their feelings ; but it was 
a thing that I tliought I was boxmd, ip 



AT 



the discharjjo of my duty to the Duke of 
York, to (io fxaclly in the manner in 
which I hud nxelved the infoimation. 
This infofiniition was considered. In the 
course of it, his Royal llijfhness wished* 
tliut 1 should have an interview with the 
•person wlio lias just been examined ; 1 
accordingly agreed to have that inter- 
view, because I consi(ierc;d that no un- 
pleasantness tiiat miglit afterwards, or at 
the time, arise to myself, sliould prevent 
me from following up the butiiness, and 
extricating that Royal ])erson from the 
person with whom he v/as at that time 
connected. Upon the score of those re- 
presentations, I had this interview : it 
was an interview not of long duration ; 
but, of course, 1 conducted the conver- 
sation to those points which led me to 
discover how far, with perfect accuracy, 
there was truth or falsehood in the in- 
formation which I hail obtained in the 
manner I have stated. It had been re- 
presented to me, that tliis person had 
defended an action as a married woman, 
having obtained the property for whicli 
the action was brought in the charac- 
ter of a widow. Investigation was made 
with regard to the place of her marriage, 
and it was found siie was married a mi- 
nor at Pancras. She had represented, 
at dilferent times, that her mother was of 
a family of the name of Mackenzie ; that 
her father was named rarquhar ; that 
they lived in the ncighbourliood of JJerk- 
hampstead, and that accounts would be 
had of the family there. 'I'he llerk- 
hampstead Register had been examined 
•with that view, and it was examined 
with accuracy for forty years back. In 
the course of the conversation I had with 
her in tlie first interview, J took occasion 
to ask her, where siie was married ; and 
she stated to me, seriously and distinctly, 
that she was married at R«rkhampstead. 
I then took occasion to put some ques- 
tions with regard to the register of I'an- 
cras ; and I took occasion likewise to 
state what 1 knew with respect to the 
registers of births, burials, and marriages 
at Berkhampstead ; and from the im- 
pression it made, I came away with a 
conviction in my mind, tliat those facts 
which had been stated to me upon the 
■investigation I liad directed, were cor- 
rect and true ; because, no doubt re- 
mained upon my mind, from her de- 
meanor and conduct upon that occasion. 
She stated seriously that her marriage 
vas at Berkhampstead. She likewise 
stated in that conversation, thut her hits- 



band was a nephew of Mr. Alderman 
Clarke, now the chamberlain of London. 
I know, from the same investigation, that 
she was equally incorrect with the oth- 
er. In a ftw days after this, his Royal 
liighiicss's mind being made up to sepa- 
rate himself from this person, I was 
again asked by his Roviil Highness, 
wliether I had any difficulty in under- 
taking the communicating to her his de- 
termination. My being to wait upon her 
was announced in a short letter from tlie 
Duke of York to her ; and I, accord- 
ingly, from the samo motive which I 
have already stated, and feeling It to be 
a duty, as I iuul commenced llu; transac- 
tion wiiicli was to lead to this, not to 
rtinch from any personal inconvenience, 
or any unpleasantness wiiich might arise 
at the time, or in future, to make the 
communication, 1 made the communica- 
tion, and I accompanied it with this 
declaration, That the Duke of York 
thought it his duty, if !ier conduct was 
correct, to give her an annuity of 400J. 
a-year, to be paid quarterly ; that he 
could enter into no obligation in writing, 
by bond or otherwise, that it must rest 
entirely upon his word, to !)e performed, 
according to her behaviour, and that he 
might, therefore, have it in his power to 
witiidraw the annuity in case her beha- 
vioiu" was sucli us to make him consider 
that it was linlit it should be paid. Tiiat 
was tlie nalure of tlie pro]>osition which 
1 made, and no other. TIic conversa- 
tion lasted for very siiort time. T loft 
the lady, and I have not seen her from 
that time to the ])resent moment. These 
circumstances seem to me, in the nar- 
ration, all that Is necessary to be stated 
with respect to that part of tlie tvansac* 
tion in which my name has been so fre- 
quently used. There are, however, two 
other matters, the one in which my name, 
was used when it was first introduced, 
and the other respecting a particular 
person, upon which I wish to stale the 
facts to the committee. I did, at sonic 
time in the year 1808, receive a ktter, I 
think the 11th of June ; I will not be 
quite sure about the date, but! think it 
is marked in my o\rn liand tlie 11th of 
Jime, 1808, which is the letter which has 
been alluded to. I am not in posfecssion 
of the letter, I gave it into the same 
custody that had the papers v.hich con- 
stituted the investigation I have stated ; 
that letter I shall slate nothing of the con- 
tents of ; I only mean to say that letter 
is in a situation to be produced, and I 



48 



^upposo from what lias passed there will 
be no necessity for any tiling more. The 
<jther fact, to wliich 1 wish to speak, is 
with respect to the persons whom I em- 
ployed. With respect to Mr. Wilkinson, 
tU»: ('ommittee have already heard the 
manner in which he has been employed, 
and those wlm know him, know his ca- 
pacity for that cmpU)ymcnt. With re- 
gard to the other person, of the name of 
Taylor, 1 can only say that I never ha])- 
pciied to see that person in the whole 
course of my life. If, hi what I have 
stated, in which the facts only can be 
eonsidercd as evidence, but which I have 
endeavoured to make intelligible by 
connecting circumstances, any thing has 
arisen for any question to be put to me, 
I am most anxious that all or any gentle- 
man in the House shoidd call upon me 
to answer it. The separation took j)lace 
upon the 11th of May, 1806; the trans- 
action which has been examined took 
place in July, 1805. 

Did you guarantee this annuity ? — 
Never ; I stated that it was to depend 
entirely ujion her behaviour, and not to 
be guaranteed, because the Duke of 
York was to be at liberty to witlidraw it, 
in case of her behaviour rendering it 
proper so to do. 

Was the promise, whatever it was, 
made to her in a letter written by you ? — 
That was what I stated in conversation. 

When you announced tlie separation, 
it was not by a conversation, but by a 
short letter written to her ? — I did not 
state that the short letter was written by 
me, but that the short letter was written 
b) the Duke of York. On subjects of 
this kind, not having had any opportuni- 
ty of refreshing my memory, I may not 
have been perfectly correct in trifling 
particulars, but now I can state, that the 
only letter I ever wrote to her was a very 
short note, that I was coming to wait 
uptm her in consequence of the Duke of 
York's wishes that I should do so, 

Did Mrs. Clarke appear exasperated 
a.t the separation ? — She appeared very 
much surprised at the communication ; 
*ihe did not appear exasperated, but slie 
declared her determination to see the 
Duke of York again ; and I collected 
from what she said, that she eipected to 
be able to prevail upon him to receive 
her again under his protection. 

Did she know tliat you had been ac- 
tive in explaining tlie nature of her con- 
duct to Uie Duke of York ?— I had everv 



reason to believe so ; I do not know it of 
my own knowledge. 

GWYLLYM LLOYD WARDLE, Esq. a 

Member of the House, was examined 

in his place, as follows : 

Had you only one short conversation^ 
with Mrs. Clarke upon the subject or 
to-night's enquiry ? — That is a difficult 
question to an.swer exactly, there arc 
such a vast variety of cases I have talked 
over witli her from time to time. I do 
not know exactly the time when I talked 
this case over with her ; I had heard of 
it before, and in short, got out of her 
more thaii she told me voluntai-ily. She 
attacked me very warmly with respect 
to another case which I mentioned, and 
I believe she spoke generally of the 
whole. When the matter was talked 
over between us, I took my i)en and 
ink, and entered every thing which pass- 
ed in a book. I do not believe that I 
liave altered any part of wliat I entered. 
I believed I never had but one pointed 
conversation on tliis case ; whetlier, in 
speaking of otlier cases, I have touched 
upon tliat, I cannot say ; the case has 
remained in that book ever since ; and I 
took a copy the other day, from that 
book, of what I had written. 

What you stated to the House, was 
what you had collected from Mrs. 
Clarke ? — What in part I had collected 
from Mrs. Clarke, and in part from other 
quai'ters. 

Did you state to the House any thing 
as having glassed between Mrs. Clarke 
and those persons who were immediate 
agents in this transaction, except what 
you collected from her ? — I f\mcy a good 
de;d. I know some points ; but I believe 
a good deal of the main points were 
stated from the book wliich I had writ- 
ten when I had conversed wiUi her upon 
the subject. 

Did she state to you that this passed 
on the 25th of July ? — No, she did not, 
certainly. I do not think she was at all 
aware of the positive date. I remem- 
ber, at the time of the conversation, she 
mentioned the circumstance of Lord 
Chesterfield's cluistening, and seemed 
guided by that ; that his Royal High- 
ness was going down to that christen- 
inf;' J and, by Uiat, she made out tlie pe- 
riod to be in July, when the transaction 
took place. 

Upon what authority did you state 
witli particularity, that this took place 



49 



on Thursday the 25th of July ; this 
ftgreement ft)r tlie 2001. ?— She, upoa 
taking note of that clu-istening', and tak- 
ing note of the Gazette also, was posi- 
tive then in her assertion (I remember 
perfectly well) that the thing was pro- 
^osed on the Thursday, and done on the 
Saturday ; that was her positive asser- 
tion, from the first to the last ; and that 
it was that If d me to slate it. 

I understand you to liave stated, that 
she did. not state it to be on the 25th ? — 
She did not, in the first instance ; the 
Gazette was found, and the moment it 
was looked into, she was so positive as 
to the Thursday and the Saturday, that 
no doubt remained upon her mind. 

Have you a particular recollection, 
that it was at last brought to the Thurs- 
day, the 25th of July ? — I have really no 
further recollection ; I have no other 
guide. 

Do you remember that it was the 
Thursday preceding the Saturday on 
which the Gazette was published ? — 
I do not know how to make "the matter 
clearer ; these were the two points that 
guided me in my assertion ; if I was 
wrong in my assertion, it was a blunder 
Arising from that. 

Is tlie committee to understand, that 
while Mrs. Clarke and yourself were 
seeking to fix the day on which this 
transaction took place, the Gazette was 
found ; and, that finding the date of that 
and considering the time which had 
preceded it, you fixed the date on 
wiiich the offer was made to be on the 
Thursday preceding ? — I mean merely 
to assert, that from the evidence Mrs. 
Clarke gave me, and from the informa- 
tion I got from the Gazette, I fixed that 
it must be on the very day I mentioned ; 
I had no other guide to go by of one 
description or another ; and I do not 
see that I am to stand here, however 
willing I may be, after the very heavy 
examination which that witness has gone 
through, which, I believe, many gentle- 
men think with myself must tire any 
gentleman ; I do not feel disposed to 
submit to the same sort of discipline ; 
she never did, to the best of my recol- 
lection, give me any other date than 
that I have mentioned, the christening 
of my Lord Chesterfield ; and I remem- 
ber her stating, that the tiling was peti- 
tioned on the Thursday, and done on 
the Saturday ; more than that I really do 
Tint recollect on the subject. Any ques- 



tion which I can answer, I shall be wil. 
ling to answer, but 1 do not know how 
further to answer that. I afterwards en- 
quired, and ascertained when that chris- 
*tcning was ; and, from that and the Ga- 
zette, I mentioned the date, which I 
thought was correct ; whether it was or 
not, I cannot state. 

The Gazette was referred to as a me- 
dium of proof at the time ? — No, I refer- 
red to the Gazette since. 

Was tliat in the presence of Mrs. 
Clarke ? — No, it was not. 

Was tliat circumstance communicated 
to her ?— ..Not by me ; I do not know^that 
it was. 

I understood you to have said, that 
you and Mrs. Clarke, upon referring to 
the Gazette, and other circumstance* 
which occurred to you, fixed, that tlie 
time must have been about Thursday the 
25tli of July ? — Tlien I said what I did 
not mean ; the conversation was respect- 
ing the cliristcnmg ; I made inquiry 
when the christening was of a friend or 
two of my own ; and I mentioned it from 
tluit : whether between that period and 
this I may have named the date to her, 
or she got it from another quarter, I can- 
not say ; that of the throe days was all 
the information that I obtained from her 
as to the date. 

Is it true that you took away some pa- 
pers from Mrs. Clarke against her will, 
and without her consent ? — I certainly 
did take some letters away from Mrs. 
Clarke, which I did not believe she ex- 
actly approved at the moment ; I did it 
in that sort of waj', there was no force in 
the business ; but amongst papers, she 
was in the habit of giving me letters res- 
pecting the cases ; and she gave me one 
or two of Mr. Donovan's ; there were 
one or two of Mr. Donovan's, and one 
or two of light moment from another 
quarter on the table. I said, I will take 
this away ; and she said, those are from 
a friend of mine, and he must not be 
touched; that made me curious about 
the letters ; and they vere certainly let- 
ters of very great moment : I have had 
them in my possession ever since. 

Mrs. Clarke had been in the habil. 
of communicating letters to you upon 
this subject before that time ? — One or 
two letters, not relative to this case ; but 
one or two letters much about that time, 
jiist about that period, she communicat- 
ed to me. 

Relative to the Duke of York ?— No, 



50 



not relative to the Duke of York ; that 
had nothing ut all to do with this husiness. 

Why was it that lie was not to be touch- 
ed ? — It was Mr. Donovan. 

Did Mrs. Chirke ever state to you, 
that she liad stated to his Royal High- 
ness the Duke of York her wishes to go 
into the country, and that those wishes 
mig'lit be gratified without any expense 
to liis Royal Highness, as an opportunity 
had occiirred toiler of obtaining the sum 
of 2001. ? — No; she stated to me to the 
hest of my recollection, that she wanted 
to go into the country ; that slie told his 
Royal Highness that there was 2001. 
could be had for tliat exchange, and that 
she got it, and went in consequence. I 
do not recollect any thing farther. 

Did she inform you that she had sta- 
ted this to his Royal Highness tlie Com- 
mander in Chief, previous to tlie recei- 
ving the 2001., and with a view to ob- 
tain his Royal Highncss's consent so to 
receive it ? — I understood that she had 
Stated, three days before the occurrence 
took place, that she should have a pe- 
cimiary consideration ; that that pecu- 
niary consideration was 2001., and that 
slie went into the country immediately 
after she received it. I understood her, 
that she had told his Royal Highness 
tliat a pecuniary consideration was to be 
gtven for the exchange, and that that pe- 
cuniary consideration proved to be 2001.; 
that tliat was told him on the day when 
the application was made, which I under- 
stood from her was tliree days before it 
took place. 

Three days before the person was ga- 
zetted, or tliree days before tha 2001. 
was received ? — Three da} s before the 
person was g-azetted ; I understood the 
person was gazetted, and the money was 
received, on tlie same day or the next 
day. 

Did Mrs. Clarke state to you, that 
she had stated to his Royal Highness 
the Duke of York, previously to her 
actual acceptance of the ofler of 2001., 
that such an oftpr, in fact, had been 
made to her, and that the acceptance of 
it would enable her to go into the coun- 
try, which she desired to do ? — I under- 
stood from her, tliat when she made the 
request to the Commander in Chief, she 
had mentioned to him that she was to re- 
ceive a pecuniary consideration ; as to 
the goin^ out of town, that was a fixed 
thing beiore thej- were both going out, 
as I understood ; but in justice to lier I 
will state what I tliis moment recollect. 



tliat a few days ago, after my motion^ 
she stated, that I had been very incor- 
rcct, if the papers stated truly what 1 
said, and whether it was that or what 
other circumstance, I will not undertake 
to say ; but to the best of my recollec- 
tion. ' I understood from her, tliat on the, 
day she made the application, she gave 
the Commander in Chief to understand, 
that a pecuniary consideration was forth- 
coming for the exchange. • 

Did you receive any other information 
from any other person than those who 
have been examined here to-night, and 
Colonel Knight, as to this point, upon 
which you founded tlic statement wliich 
you made to the House ? — I had, as I 
before stated to the House, had other 
information fr(nn other quarters ; it will 
not become me to state to the House 
who those persons were ; tliat I conceive 
would be very indecorous. 

Did that expression which Mrs. Clarke 
used as to a particular person, who was 
not to be totiched, imply that there were 
some proceedings to be instituted con- 
cerning some other persons ? — I have nrt 
reason to think that she meant any more 
than exactly wliat she said, tliat when I 
got hold of those letters, she knew I was 
possessed of facts that would touch Mr. 
Donovan ; I do not think she connected 
any other matter with it. 

WiUi respect to those letters which 
yoti carried away from Mrs. Clarke's, 
has Mrs. Clarke since made frequent ap- 
plication to you for those letters ? — Yes 
she has ; and was very much enraged 
with nic, particulai-ly for having said 
what I did respecting Mr. Donovan. 

Was tlie conversation which took place 
on Saturday, the conversation to which 
you alluded, in which you received the 
information upon which you proceeded I 
— That was subsequent to my motion. 

Did you see Mrs. Clarke yesterday ? 
— I was at her house late last night, 
about nine o'clock ; I was in the draw- 
ing-room for a few moments, there was 
company with her. 

Did you see Mrs. Clarke 3-esterday .' 
— Yes, as I have said before, I was in 
her drawing-room when she had com- 
pany last night. 

She was in that drawing-room ?— Y'cs, 
certainly. 

Is it possible that she should not have 
seen you in the drawing-room at that 
time ? — No, it is totally impossible. 

I understand you to say, that being in- 
formed that the gazetting took place 



;l 



vUUin two or three days after the ori- 
i^lnal order, you i)rovidcd yourself witli 
the g-azctte of Saturday, in which that 
appointment appeared, and so calcuhi- 
tinj^ l)ack\vards, fixed 'riiursday as tJ»c 
day on vvJiicli the proposition had been 
made ? — I understood from the first, that 
it was on the Thursday that the exchang^e 
had been applied for, and that the busl- 
liss was completed on the Saturday ; 
tliat is entered in my book in the first 
conversation, that she understood it was 
g'azettcd on the Saturday, or in two or 
three days. 

The pazette in which this is announced 
is dated on the Tuesday ? — Yes, I am 
perfectly awai>e of that fact : that is a 
blunder of hers, but I never heard any 
one thin)!^ to make me doubt that it was 
so till to-ni.c^ht. 

Being- asked whether you were not at 
Mrs. Clarke's yesterday, you answered 



cently, had 1 any notion that there were 
any transactions of this kind in whioli she 
had been in any way concerned : Those 
pecuniary concerns to M'hich I alluded 
were the use of the Duke of York's 
name for the purpose of raising money, 
so as to involve his credit and character, 
but not by the sale of commissions. 

Do you mean by g-cttlng in debt with 
tradesmen, and borrowing money ? — Any 
mode by whicl\ she could raise Inoney. 

Did you continue, from the year 1806, 
to have the management of his Royal 
Highness's finances, and his money con- 
cerns ? — I had not, properly speaking, 
the management of any jjart of his Ro-" 
yal Highness's. But I Wish to mention 
this to the house ; — the Duke of York, 
from causes which it is unnecessary to 
refer to, found his circumstances cm- 
barassed ; at a very early period, he 
applied to me to look into them, and td 



that you had' been there about nine get matters arranged ; he appropriated 
o'clock in the evening ; were you not at to that arrangement, as soon as his in- 
Mrs. Clarke's house at any prior hour of come was such as to enable him to afford 

it, a very large sum of money annually, 
12,0001. a year, that was put under the 
administration of Mr. Coutts and my- 
self, as trustees for the creditors, to set- 
tle the payments. From the circum- 
stance of "the Duke of York being a. 
mere annuitant, and from other causes, 
which I should be extremely glad to 
explain, to render my evidence intelli- 
gible, particularly from one cause, that 
in the arrangement of his estates he had 
cast upon him the expense of a large in- 
closure, which by Act of Parliament he 
was bound to see executed, which took 



yesterday ? — I called at Mrs. Clarke's 
yesterday morning, she was not at home ; 
I returned in the evening, and had a 
convei'sation with her for a few moments. 
Did you merely call at Mrs. Clarke's 
house ; did you not go into it, and wait 
a very considerable time at Mrs. Clarke's 
house ? — I was up in Mrs. Clarke's draw- 
ing-room for some time in the morning, 
I did not see her then, but I saw her in 
the afternoon. 

WILLIAM ADAM, Esq. was again 
examined in his place, as follows 



Having mentioned the annuity which a great deal of money, and his being 



was conditionally promised, can you 
state whether that annuity was actually 
paid : and, if so, for how long ? — I can 
state nothing respecting the payment : I 
had nothing at all to do with it ; I never 
heard any thing of it from the time when 

had the second and last interview. 

You have stated, that the annuity was 
to be continued so long as Mrs. Claike's 
conduct was correct ; will you have the 
goodness to explain that term ? — The 
term I iised I meant in this sense ; that 



under the necessity of buying tythes to 
a large amount, together with the pro- 
perty-tax coming on him, we were not 
enabled to operate the redemption of the 
debts by the payment of 12,0001. a year ; 
it was therefore the Duke of York's wish 
to appropriate a larger sum ; this was 
done, and it is still to go to a greater ex- 
tent, in the hands of Mr. Coutts and 
myself, for the same purposes. These 
are the monies whicli cohie under my 
management, and no other. I know 



her conduct was to be such, as not to nothing about the Duke of York's p^i- 

have any reference to any pecuniary vate expenditure ; 1 know riothin^ about 

transactions, such as I stated to have the pension he pays to any one, but only 

been the cause of the investigation, and the fund raised for the payment of debts, 

the subject of the subsequent communi- and also that for the reduction of the 

cation to her by me, that the Duke of debt he owes to the Public, a sum lent 

York was to have no further connection to him from the Civil List, when Mr. 

with her ; and I stated in my evidence, Pitt was Minister, and which Mr. Pitt 

tlidt at that time, noi- at any Ume till re- and other Ministers suspended the pay- 
8 



meat of to a certain time, and which was 
last year begun to be paid : a fund was 
vested in me for the payment of 4,0001. a 
year of that ; this will extend to the sum 
of from 26 to 30,0001. a year ; and when 
it is considered that the' income-tax falls 
upon that, as well as the whole of his 
other property, I believe that his Royal 
Highness will be foundtogive upas large 
a sum of money as his present circum- 
stances will afford. These are the only 
funds which fall under my knowledge ; 
and therefore it is impossible for me to 
know whether a pension is paid to this or 
that person, and it is not correct to sup- 
pose that I am in the administration of 
liis affairs further than I have stated. 

Did Mrs. Clarke apply to you at any 
time since 1806 for the payment of this 
pension ? — It is extremely difficult for 
me to state positively that she did not, 
but I believe the two letters which she 
mentions are the only letters I have 
ever received from her. I cannot under- 
take to say, in the variety of transactions 
I have, tliat there were no others ; the 
prominent letter was that of the 11th 
June 1808, which I immediately indorsed 
and delivered over to Mr. Wilkinson. 

COLONEL GORDON was called in, and 

examined by the Committee, as fol- 
lows : 

Do you hold any office under the Com- 
mander in Chief ? — Yes, I do. 

What is it ?— His Military or Public 
Secretary. 

Does the business of exchanging com- 
missions pass through your Office ? — It 
does. 

Can any transaction of that nature pass 
without your knowledge ?— It is quite 
impossible. 

Do all the documents by which the 
persons, who apply to exchange, are re- 
commended, pass through your Office ? — 
They do. 

Do they pass first under your exami- 
nation and consideration ? — Generally ; 
I might almost say always. 

Do you report the result to the Com- 
mander in Chief ? — Most undoubtedly, 
without fail. 

How long have you held the office that 
you do at present ? — About fqur years 
and a half. 

Did you hold it in 1805 ?— I did. 

When any exchange has obtained the 
approbation of the Commander in Chief, 
is there a minute made of it ?— Always. 



After thai, are the commissions madff 
out pursuant to that minute ? — After an 
exchange, or any commission has ob- 
tained the approbation of the Com- 
mander in Chief, it is immediately sub- 
mitted to the consideration of His Ma- 
jesty ; after His Majesty's approbation 
and signature has been affixed to the pa- 
per so submitted, it is sent to the Se- 
cretary at War, for the purpose of having 
commissions made out corresponding to 
the names placed in that paper previously 
submitted to the King, and then to be 
put in the Gazette. 

Are the commissions also signed by 
His Majesty before they are gazetted ?— J 
No ; perhaps I should explain, that thej 
are made out in the War -office after the 
gazetting ; the gazetting is the immediate J 
act following the signature of the King, a| 
notification to the army, tliat His Ma*1 
jesty has approved of those appolntmentfj 
and he desires his Secretary at War tff^ 
prepare the commissions accordingly : 
they are made out more at leisure. 

You will see mentioned in the Gazetta 
the exchange between Colonel Knight 
and Colonel Brooke ; when did that ex- 
change receive the approbation of the 
Commandsr in Chief? — On the 2od of 
July 1805. 

When you say that that approbation 
took place on the 23d of July 1805, you 
refer to some document in your hand ; 
is that any memorandum made in your 
Office ?— It is. 

Is it the course of your Office, that, 
when the approbation of the Commander 
in Chief is signified, there should be a 
memorandum made of it ? — I think I may 
say invariably. 

Was the approbation of the Command- 
er in Chief to this exchange finally ob- 
tained on the 23d of July ? — It was. 

Do you keep records in the Office, of 
all the applications that are made for pro- 
motions or exchanges ? — Yes, I do, very 
carefully ; and every paper of every kind 
and every sort, that comes into that 
Office, I preserve with the greatest 
possible care. 

Is that paper which you hold in your 
hand, the original document which is 
brought from your Office ? — Yes, it is. 

That which you hold in your hand be- 
ing the original document which you 
brought from the Office, is it also the do- 
cument to which you just looked, and 
declared that the approbation of the 
Commander in Chief was obtained on 



the 23(1 ?— Yes ; it is the only paper I Yes, I think I could, with the same fa. 

have looked at since I entered this House, cility with which I have put my hand 

except the Gazette. upon this. 

You stated, that you keep an account Are you able to state who recom- 

of all the applications that are made for mended Colonel Knight and Colonel 

promotion or for exchange, and that tl^t Brooke for that exchange ?— This paper 

is preserved in the Office 1 — I did state with your permission, I will read ; it will 

so. speak for itself. 

Could you, upon any other occasion, [Colonel Gordon read, and then 

with reference to any other exchange, delivered in, a Letter from 

as 3 ou have with reference to this, find . Messrs. Greenwood & Cox to 

the' memorandum which denoted the himself, dated Craig's-court, 

time at which the approbation of the July 1st, 1805.(^aJ 
Commander in Chief was procured ?— 

CaJ Brooke's services. 
Cornet, 8 Dns. - - 29 June 93 * C. L. 

Lieut. 83 F. — 7 Oct. 93 cannot he acceded to, H. R. U. does not approve 

Capt. Ind. Co. - - 14 Dec. 95 of the exchange proposed. 

96 25 Mar. 94 

Maj. 13 Dec. 94 Sir, 

Placed on half-pay Mar. 98 Ry direction of General Norton, we have the hon- 

Bt. Lt. Col. 1 Jan. 1800 our to inclose a form, signed by Brevet Lieutenant 

Maj. - - 48 24 May 1804 Colonel Brooke of the 56th regiment, to exchange 

Cancelled 9 June 1804 with Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Knight of the 5th 

Maj. - - 56 5 Jan. 1805 Dragoon Guards, together with the copy of a letter 

— from Lieutenant Colonel Knight, stating, that he is 

* 23 July 05 satisfied with the security given for payment of the 

JI. R.H. does noiv approve of this regulated difference between the value of the two 

exchange. commissions ; and being informed the counterpart 

of the exchange has been sent in through the Agents 

of the 5th Dragoon Guards, you will be pleased to submit the same to field Marsha^ 

his Royal Highness the Duke of York. 

We have the honour to be. 
Sir, 
Craig's Court, 1st July, 1805. Your most obedient humble servants. 

Greenwood &; Cox. 
Lt. Colonel Gordon, 
&c. &c. &c. 
* The words in Italics are in Pencil Marks in the Original. 



I beg you will be pleased to obtain for me his Majesty's permissiqn to exchange 
with Brevet Lt. Col. Knight of the 5th Dragoon Guards. 

In case his Majesty should be graciously pleased to permit me to make the said 
exchange, I do hereby declare and cei-tify, upon the word and honour of an officer 
and a gentleman, that I will not, either now or at any future time, give, by any 
means or in any shape whatever, directly or indirectly, any more than the regulatecL 
difference. 

I have the honour to be. 
Sir, 
Your most obedient and most humble Servant, 

JV. Brooke. 
To the Colonel, or Commanding Officer, Bt, Lt. Col. & Major 56 ft. 

of the 56th regiment. 
I approve of the above exchange, and, I vevily believe, no clandestine bargain 
subsists betwecu the parties concerned. 

C J^lrion. 

C^lpn^l. 



54 



Is it your course, upon a recommend- on the 1st July, and it is not completed 



ation of this sort being put in, to inquire 
into the merits of the applicants ? — Most 
undoubtedly, in every case ; bnt particu 
larly in the case of Field Officers of rcffi 
ments. 

Is it your course to report to the Com- 
mandcr in Chief the result of those in- 
quiries ? — Invariably. 

When the Commander in Chief has 
ever drawn a different conclusion, upon 
the facts stated, than that which you 
have drawn, has it always been his course 
to assign to ^'ou a reason for that ? — I 
think he has ; but if he did not, I should 
most undoubtedly have taken the liberty 
to Iiave asked him. 

Where, in such a case, no reason has 
been assigned* are yon certain that you 
have always asked him ? — Most undoubtt 
edly. 

In this case, have }'0u any doubt that 
you made the necessary inquiries upon 
the representations made to you by this 
memorial? — None whatever ; lam quite 
positive that I did do so. 

Was the ultimate approbation of this 
exchange the result of those inquiries ? 
— I firmly believe so. 

Do you firmly believe that it was in 
consequence of your report to his Royal 
Highness ? — Yes, most decidedly I do. 

if his Royal Highness, in approving 
this exchange, had acted otherwise than 
according to your report, is it possible 
that that fact could have escaped your 
memory ? — It is some time since- this ex- 
change took place ; but I am much in 
the habit of transacting business of this 
kind, and I do not think that it could 
have escaped my memory. 

Would it have struck you as an extra- 
ordinary and unusual transaction, if the 
Commander in Chief had acted contrary 
to the result that was drawn from the 
communications made by you, without 
assigning any reason for it ? — Unless his 
Royal Highness had assigned a reason 
for it, it certainly would have struck me 
as very extraordinary. 

Have you any doubt, upon refreshing 
your memory as well as you can, by all 
the papers you have, and recalling the 
facts to your recollection, that the ap- 
probation of his Royal Highness was 
gained to this exchange, as the result of 
the memorial presented to you and the 
inquiries made by yourself, and commu- 
nicated to his Royal Highness ? — I can- 
not 4QUbt it for a moment. 
This representation, I observe, is niade 



till the 23d ,- do you find that there was 
any delay in bringing the business to a 
conclusion, and that it was at first stop- 
ped ? — Yes, there was ; and it was stop- 
ped. 

Are you now able to state, from your 
recollection, upon what ground it was at 
first stopped ?— To the best of my recol- 
lection, it was stopped upon this ground; 
upon referring to the services of the re- 
spective officers, as is invariably the 
practice, I found that the services of 
Lieutenant Colonel Brooke, from the last 
seven years, had been upon half-pay ; 
consequently, it became necesssiy to 
make more than usual inquiries respect- 
ing Colonel Brooke, before he could be 
recommended for the situation of Major 
to a Regiment of Cavalry ; when those 
inquiries were made, and I was satisfied 
that Colonel Bi'ooke was a fit and proper 
person, I made that report to the Com- 
mander in chief ; ai\d, as I have said be- 
fore, I believe it was upon my report so 
made, that the Commander in Chief ac- 
ceded to the exchange. 

Are you quite svire that there was no 
difficulty or rub on the part of Colonel 
Knight ? — I am perfectly sure ; if the 
House will permit me, I will read my 
answer to Colonel Knight upon this sub- 
ject. 

[Colonel Gordon read, and then de- 
livered in, a letter from himself to 
Colonel Knight, dated the 21st June, 
1805— viz. 

" Horse-Guards, 21 June, 1805. 
" Sir, ■* 

♦' Having laid before the Commander 
in Chief your letter of the 19th instant, I 
am directed to acquaint you, that his 
Royal Highness has no objection to your 
exchanging to the Infantry, receiving the 
diffisrence ; and when an eligible suc- 
cessor can be recommended, your re- 
quest will be taken into consideration. 
I am, &c. 

(Signed) J. W. GORDON. 
Bt. Lt. Col. Knight, 
5 Dgn. Gds." 

Colonel Gordon. The eligibility there- 
fore must have depended upon Colonel 
Brooke. 

Then I am to understand from you 
that Colonel Knight had made an appli- 
cation to exchange, previous to this me- 
morial presented by Greenwood & Cox, 
in the name of Geheral Norton ? — Ycb, he 
had. 



5 Si 



And that by this letter of the 21st of 
Fune, it was sigriified to him, tliat his 
)roposal was accepted ; that is, that the 
;xchang-e so fai* as regarded him was ac- 
;epted, if an eligible successor was found ? 
—Certainly. 

You are satisfied that the delay arose 
rom the doubt witli respect to Colonel 
irooke ? — I have so stated it. 

Have you any doubt that you -pursued 
he necessary inquiries for clearing- up 
;hat difficulty ? — None, whatever. 

Have you any doubt that the approba- 
jation of the Commander in Chief was 
ultimately obtained, in consequence of 
;hose inquiries having cleared up the 
iifficulty ? — None whatever ; I under- 
stood that I had stated that before. 

Was there any greater delay in this 
:ase, than was necessary for the purpose 
Df prosecuting such inquiries ? — None 
whatever ; similar delays occur in simi- 
lar transactions, almost every week. 

Was there any thing, from the begin- 
ning to the endof tliis transaction, which 
distinguishes it from other transactions 
of the same sort, relative to the same 
kind of exchanges ? — Certainly not ; I 
was much surprised when I heard of the 
difficulty first started in this honourable 
House, about thi-ee nights ago. 

In any conversation that you have had 
upon tlie subject of this exchange, with 
the Commander in Chief, do you recol- 
lect a wish being expressed that the con- 
clusion of the exchange might be expe- 
dited ? — No, certainly not ; the expres- 
sion of such a wish would have been vei-y 
futile, for it would not have expedited 
the exchange one half-instant ; it would 
have gone on in the usual course. 

Do you recollect instances on the part 
of the Commander in Chief, since you 
have been in office, tending to create a 
greater expedition than tlie necessary 
course of official business permits ? — 
Never in the current business of the 
office. I beg to explain to the house : 
the common business of army promo- 
tions is laid before the King once a week, 
and never twice a week, when any ex- 
pedition is fitted out and that officers are 
suddenly appointed to such expeditions ; 
then and then only a separate paper is 
submitted to liis Majesty, with their 
names exclusively, and they are not in- 
cluded in the common weekly paper. 

Are the committee to understand,that in 
the ordinary course of military promotion 
or exchange, the office is always permit- 
ted to take its course ? — Invariably ; I nev- 
?y recollect an instance to the contvary. 



You have statfed that Col. Brooke had' 
been for seven years on half-ptiy ; in pro- 
portion to the length of time that an offi- 
cer has been upon half-pay, and conse- 
quently been moved out of sight from or- 
(iinary military observation, is it not 
necessary that there should be a much 
longer pei'iod of inquiry to discover what 
his conduct has been ? — Perhaps it may 
be so, but I cannot e.vactly say that, as I 
am in the habit of seeing twenty, thirty, 
and forty officers in the army, almost ev- 
ery day of my life ; and generally, from 
some of those, I can ascertain particulars 
respecting any officer T choose, and that 
without letting them know the purpose 
for whicl) I require it. 

Was the period of time required for 
this exchange beyond the ordinary pe- 
riod in such cases ? — Certainly not. 

Did the Commander in Chief ever state 
to you, or did you ever hear, that he 
thought that one of these persons, either 
Colonel Knight or Colonel Brooke, was a 
bad subject ? — I never heard him express 
any such thing. 

Can you take upon yourself to say, that 
no opinion of the Commander in Chief's, 
that one of these was a bad subject, was 
the occasionof any delay in the completing^ 
of this exchange ? — Yes, I certainly can ; 
the Commander in Chief is very cautious 
in expressing himself so strongly on the 
conduct of any officer : if the Command- 
er in Chief was to express liimself .so ' 
strongly upon the conduct of any officer, 
I should conceive tiiat thcj-e was some- 
thing in the conduct of that ofiicer that 
required more than common inquiry. 

Then are the committee to understand 
that no more nor further delay took place, 
than that which M'as necessary to com- 
plete the inquiries whicli you thought it 
your duty to make ? — Certainly. 

As you were in office at that time, sup- 
posingthc negotiation hetweenCol. Knight 
and Col. Brooke to have gone off in con- 
sequence of the objection made to Col. 
Brooke, or from any other cau.sc ; was it 
probable that Col. Knight might have had 
to wait some time before he might have 
had another eligible opportunity of mak- 
ing an exchange ? — Yes, I think he might. 
What day of the week is it that the 
lists axe generally sent in to the King ?— 
Thcv are commonly submitted by me to 
the Commander in Chief on Wednesda)', 
they are submitted to the King on Thurs- 
day ; and if they come back on Friday 
(which nine times in ten they do) they 
are gazetted on Saturday : if they do 
not come back in time on Friday, they 



56 



are gazetted on the following- Tuesday. 
Did you keep any memorandum of the 
inquiries you made respecting the ex- 
change between Colonel Knight and Co- 
lonel Brooke ? — None whatever. 

You have stated, that the application 
to the Commander in Chief for tliis ex- 
change was communicated on the 23d of 
July ; when was that application to the 
Commander in Chief submitted for his 
Majesty's approbation ? — The date is ac- 
curately marked upon the original paper : 
it was submitted to the King upon the 
24th, as you will find, by reference to the 
paper upon the table. 

When did it appear in the Gazette ? — 
The Gazette is dated July 30th. 

Then the approbation of the Command- 
er in Chief was signified seven days be- 
fore it appeared in the Gazette ? — Allow 
me to mai"k this distinction : the appro- 
bation of the Commander in Chief is 
never signified to any body, until the 
King's pleasure has been subsequently 
obtained upon it. 

1 understood, the Commander in Chief 
consented to this exchange on the 23d ; 
that on the 23d it was known to you ; that 
you then prepared the proper communi- 
cation to be laid before his Majesty, but 
that communication was submitted to his 
Majesty on the 24th ; that on the 24th, his 
Majesty signified his approbation, and 
that it did not appear in the Gazette till 
the 30th, being seven days after the Com- 
mander in Chief had given his consent, 
and six days after his Majesty had con- 
firmed that consent ? — Exactly. I beg it 
may be understood, that after his Majes- 
ty's signature is affixed to a paper of 
promotions, it is part of my duty to make 
such of them public as may be necessa- 
ry. The Gazette is a notification, but it 
is not a ratification ; the thing is finally 
done before it appears in the Gazette. 

You have stated, that being in the habit 
of seeing twenty, thirty, or more differ- 
ent officers every day, you take a proper 
opportunity of collecting from them the 
character and conduct of tliose whom 
you see occasion to inquire into ; is it 
your habit to make minutes of the result 
of those inquiries ? — There scarcely a day 
passes over my head that I have not oc- 
casion to obtain information of that na- 
ture ; but to make a minute of it would 
be absolutely impossible, I mean to any 
extent : I could not carry on the business. 
Between the first of July, when the ap- 
plication was made on behalf of Colonel 
Brooke, and the 23d, when it received 



the sanction of the Commander in Chief, 
did any conversation pass between your^ 
self and the Commander in Chief, other^ 
wise than tliat which originated in yoiu 
addressing yourself to the Duke upon 
the subject in the ordinary course oft 
office ? — To the best of my recoUectionJ 
certainly not ; I speak more decidedlj 
upon this point, because I am in the habit, 
of laying numbers of papers before the 
Commander in Chief, and of confining my 
conversation strictly and exclusively to 
the matter before us. 

If his fijajesty's approbation \vas re- 
ceived on Wednesday, why was it not 
notified in the Saturday's Gazette ? — I 
think I have said before, that if the pa- 
pers were returned from his Majesty in 
time, it would have been gazetted on the 
next day ; I take for granted, therefore, 
that they were not returned in time. 

What space of time was there betweeir 
your making your report of the inquiries 
made by you respecting Colonel Brooke, 
and the Duke of York's directing you 
to make out the necessary papers for the 
King's inspection ? — I think I have stated 
that I received the expression of the 
Commander in Chief's pleasure on the 
23fl ; the papers were made out for his 
Maj esty on the 24th. 

What time elapsed between your mak^ 
ing the report of the inquiries respecting 
Colonel Brooke to tlie Commander in 
Chief, and the Commander in Chief giv- 
ing his consent ? — A reference to the pa- 
per on the table will explain the dates. 

Did you make your report on the same 
morning that the Commander in Chief 
gave his consent, and directed you to 
make out the necessary papers ? — I beg 
pardon, but I do not comprehend that 
question. 

When did you state the result of your 
inquiries respecting Colonel Brooke ? — I 
have already stated, that I made my re- 
port to the Commander in Chief on the 
23d, and received his pleasure upon it. 

Upon casting your ej^e over the Tues- 
day's Gazette, can you tell whether there 
are any promotions or exchanges in the 
Tuesday's Gazette which received his 
Majesty's approbation at the same time as 
the exchange in question ? — I beg to state, 
that I firmly believe it is the usual prac- 
tice, at least, that every exchange, and 
promotion, and appointment, went in the 
same paper before the King. 

£The chairman was directed to report 
progress, an4 ^k leave to sit again. 



Friday, February 3, 1809. 



Ml*. Wharto:» in the chair. 

GWYLLYM LLOYD WAllDLE, Esq. 

Member of the House, attending' in his 
lace, desired leave to correct the evi- 
ence he had g^ivcn. 

J\rr. JVardle — I wish to state, that it 
ras on Monday morning- I waited a con- 
iderable time at Mrs. Clarke's house, 
►n tlie Tuesday morning' I did see her, 
s well as on the Tuesday evening'. 

You were at Mrs. Clarke's, as you 
tate, on the Tuesday morning ? — Yes. 

And saw Mrs. Clarke ? — Yes. 

Was Mrs. Clarke at home when you 
ailed ? — I l>elieve she was up stairs. 

How long- mlg-ht you be at her house 
efore you saw her ? — I do not think very 
jnif. A short time. 

How long- did you stay there ? — I 
annot speak very correctly ; it is im- 
ossible for me to say exactly ; perhaps 
lalf an hour or thereabouts. 1 believe 
was in my carriage ; but I am not cer- 
ain. 

You came there in your carriage ? — 
think so ; but I am not very positive. 

have been so constantly in the habits 
if going tliere, that it is impossible for 
ne to say ; but I rather think I was in 
ny carriage. 

Do you recollect how long you were 
here ? — Upon my word I do not, or else 

would answer most fully : but to say 
(ositively that I can name a time, itreal- 
y is not in my power. 

At wliat hour of tlie day did you g^ 
here ? — Upon my word I cannot exactly 
ay ; I tliink the first time I saw Mrs. 
31ai-ke on Tuesday was early in the 
norning. 

About what time ? — Upon my word I 
lo not know the hour ; but I remember 
joing down in her carriage witli her to 
he end of the King's road. 

On the Tuesday morning ? — Yes, on 
he Tuesday morning. 

You c«lled upon her in the mornijig ? 
—Yes. 



At what time in the morning Aid you 
call upon her first i — It was after break- 
fast ; I should think about eleven or 
twelve o'clock. I do not speak posi- 
tively. 

Was it at that time that you called 
upon her in your carriage ? — No, it was 
not ; I think I walked there. 

How long did you stay with her on 
that occasion when you called there, 
having walked there ! — To the best of 
my recollection, there were a parcel of 
workmen putting up looking-glasses, and 
things of that kind, in the house ; and I 
do not think I was there more than a 
short time. 

Half an hour ? — Upon my word I 
cannot say ; if it is of any consequence, 
I will endeavour to recollect. I rather 
think, to the best of my recollection, but 
I speak without certainty to these points, 
that her carriage was at the door. I am 
not certain. 

Did ou go out with her in her car- 
riage ? — I did. 

On that morning ? — Yes, as far as the 
bar at the bottom of the King's road. 

Did you call upon her afterwards i« 
your carriage on that day ? — I think I 
did in my carriage. I called upon her 
that day. 

At what time did you call upon her 
in your carriage ? — 1 really cannot ex- 
actly say ; I should think it might have 
been three o'clock. I do not speak to 
an hour, but, as far as I can recollect, 
that was the time. It has since occurred 
to me where I had been ; I had taken a 
long walk, and returned and went to her 
house in my carriage. 

Did you see her when you called upon 
her in your carriage ! — I did. 

She was at home then ? — I think she 
was up stairs, and came down soon. 

Then Mrs. Clarke saw you the second 
time ? — She saw me the second time. 

Do you recollect how long you staid 
with her the second time ? — I do not 



58 



think lont^ ; 1 should think about half an 
hour : I do not know whether it was so 
much. I cannot be positive as to the 
time. 

Then I understand you have said, 
that you saw her a third time in the 
evening- ? — As I have before stated, I 
saw her at night in her drawing'-room with 
some company, for a very short time. 

You called upon her the morning be- 
fore ; the Monday ?— I did. 

Mrs. Clarke was not at home then ? 
—She was not at home ; and I was under 
a mistake on the former night, in sup- 
posing that what occurred on the Tues- 
day had happened on the Monda}'. 

bid you see her at all on the Mon- 
day ? — As I was coming away, having 
waited about two hours, she came in af- 
ter driving about in town. 

Did you stay any time after she came 
in ? — No, I did not ; I came away im- 
mediately. 

Then both on the Monday and on 
the Tuesday you had seen her in the 
course of the morning ? — As I have 
stated, I saw her for a very short time, 
just as she came in on the Monday. 

On the Tuesday, had you any con- 
versation with her on the subject of these 
charges ? I do not really recollect that 
I had ; positively no pointed conversa- 
tion at all. 

Did Mrs. Clarke first mention tills 
subject of the charges against his Royal 
Highness the Duke of York to ,vou, or 
did you first mention it to her ! — I fancy 
in the first instance I asked her questions 
respecting them. 

Do you recollect from whom you first 
derived your information on this sub- 
ject ? — To say from whom is totally im- 
possible. I could not with propriety 
state many of the names. 

Have you received the information 
from Mr. Finnerty ? — I never received 
any information from Mr. Finnerty in 
my life upon this subject Within these 
few days he spoke to me, but not any 
information respecting these charges. 
I did not know Mr. Finnerty, and as to 
his giving me any information, he never 
did. Within these few days, Mr. Fin- 
nerty spoke to me respecting Dr. 
Thynne ; I believe the very day before 
Dr. ThjTine was examined. I think it 
necessary to add, that when Major Ho- 
gan's pamphlet was published, on seeing 
the matter held out there, of information 
being ready to be given to any Member 
of P^liament who asked for it, I wrote. 



a letter addressed to Ma I ur ilogan, ai] 
in consequence of that letter, I had 
interview with Mr. Finnerty. I pi 
some questions to Mr. Finnerty, and 
found, or at least I had every re ason t^ 
believe, that he had not any information 
at all upon the subject ; and none did 
he give me. I never had any informa- 
tion whatever from Mr. Finnerty that 
led to any charge which I have made. 
1 never to my know^ledge saw Mr. fin- 
nerty in my life till he came, in > jnse- 
quence of my letter to Major Hogan, 
and then 1 had not any information from 
him, which led to the charges I have 
made. 

When was it that you saw Mr. Fin- 
nerty, in consequence of your letter to 
Major Hogan ; was it before or after the 
communication respecting Dr. Thynne ? 
— The communication respecting Dr. 
Thynne occurred in this lobby, or near 
it : I believe the night Dr. Thynne gave 
his evidence. It was some montlis ago 
when I applied by letter, perhaps a 
month after the publication of Major 
Hogan's pamphlet. 

Was the day, on which you now re- 
collect to have seen Mrs. Clarke three 
times, the day before your last examina- 
tion ; — I have before stated, that I was 
led to believe, that what occurred on the 
Tuesday had happened on the Monday ; 
as soon as I got home from this house, I 
made some inquiries tliat set me to rights 
on that subject, and 1 took the earliest 
opportunity yesterday of communicating 
in this house my mistake to the Right' 
Honourable Gentleman the Chancellor 
of the Exchequer, and to the Right 
Honourable Gentleman the Speaker. 

Are you certain that the day on which 
you now recollect to have seen Mrs. 
Clarke three times, was the day before 
your last examination ? — Yes, it was on 
Tuesday last. 

WILLIAM ADAM, Esq. a Member of 

the House attending, in his place, was 

examined, as follows : 

Have you tlie letters to which you 

referred on a former evening ? — I wish 

to state that I have a letter dated Sunday 

morning, June 19th, without any year ; 

it is indorsed in my hand-writing, June 

19, 1808. I have another letter dated 

Saturday morning, without any day of 

the month ; I have not, I observe, put 

any indorsement of the day of the month 

or of tlie year upon that letter, but it will 

appear that that of the 19th of June 



59 



1808, wa3 the first, andtliat dated Satur- 
day was tlic second letter. When those 
letters were thej subject of examination 
on a former evening-, lavished to be 
possessed of tliem in order to have pro- 
duced them. I had it not in my power 
to produce them then, not supposing- 
th.at such a subject would be alluded to ; 
I have now produced them. 

The following letters were read. 

" Sir, 
" On the 11th of Jfay 1806, you 
waited on me by the desire of His Royal 
Hig-hness the Duke of York, to state 
II. II. H.'s intention of allowing me an 
annuity of four hundred per annum. 
II. R. H. by his promise is now in- 
debted to me five hundred pounds. I 
have written repeatedly, but of no avail. 
H. R. H.'s conduct towards me has 
been so devoid of principle, feeling, and 
honour ; and as his promises are not to 
be depended on, though even given by 
you ; I have come to the determination 
of making my intentions known to you 
for the consideration of H. R. H. ; — and 

thus it is : 1 solicit H. R. H. to make 

the annuity secure for i-ny life, and to 
pay me the arrears immediately, as my 
necedsities are very pressing, (this he 
knows.) — If H. R. H. refuses to do this, 
I have no other mode for my immediate 
wants, than to publish every circumstance 
ever communicated to me by H. R. H. 
and everj"^ thing- which has come under 
my knowledge during our intimacy, 
with all his letters : those things amount 
to sometliing serious : He is more with- 
in my power than may be imagined. Yet 
1 wish for H. R. H.'s sake and my own, 
that he will make my request good, as 
I know full well I should suffer much, 
in exposing- him, in my own mind ; yet 
before I do any thing publicly, I will 
send to every one of H. R. H.'s family, 
a copy of what I mean to publish. Had 
If. R. II. only have been a little 
punctual, this request had never been 
made. One thing more : should H, R. 
H. throw up his pi'otection to my Eoy, 
(for I thank ^lim much for the past,) I 
hope he will place him on the founda- 
tion of the Charter-house or any other 
public school :, the cliild is not account- 
able for my conduct. You will please 
then, sir, to state this communication to 
the Duke of York ; and on Wednesday 
I will send to your house, to know 
what may be ib. R. H.'s jnt^ntion ; 
9 



wliich you will please to aigulfy by a 
letter to 

•' Your most obedient 

humble Servant 

M. A. CLARKE." 

" Sunday Morning, June 19. 

"His "Royal Highness must feel, that 
his conduct on a late affair deserves all 
this from me, and more. 
" William Adam, Esq. 

Bloomsbury Squai'e. 

" Private." 

Indorsed Mrs. Clarke, 19, June 1808. 

"11, Holies-Street, 
" Sir, Canvendish-Square. 

"On Wednesday, finding there was 
not any answer to mv letter, I am 
led to enquire, H. R. H. the Duke of 
York, thinks proper not to make good 
his promise given by you, and that you 
encourage him In It. 

" I have employed myself since, in 
committing to paper every circumstance 
within my recollection during the inti- 
macy of II. R. H. and myself. The fifty 
or sixty letters of H. R. H. will give v/eight 
and truth to the whole. On Tuesday 1 
have promised to give tliese up, if I hear 
nothing further after this last notice ; and 
when once given out of my own possess- 
ion, it will be impossible to recall. It is 
to Gentlemen, andnotany publisher they 
will be committed : and those Gentlemen 
are just as obstinate as His Royal High- 
ness, and more independent : they are 
acquaintances of yours ; and to relieve 
my wants, in pique to others will do what 
the Duke will not : however, he has It all 
within his own power, and so he may act 
as he pleases. 

" I am, sir, your most obedient, 

M. A. CLARIS. 

" Saturday moi-ning. 
William Adam, Esq. 

Bloomsbury-Square." 

Were these the two letters that the 
witness alUuled to in her examination ? 
— They must have been the two letters 
that she alluded to, because I am confi- 
dent I never received any other letter 
from the witness, unless that I received a 
very short note of a few lines ; I rather 
think I did, but I am not possessed of that. 

Did His Royal Highness ever betray 
any apprehension to you as to any thing 
which the witness could communicate 
respecting his Royal Highness ? — Never 
at any tiqie, or on any occasion. 



w 



Did you conim\iiucate the contents of 
these letters to his Royal Highness ? — I 
did. 

Did you shew the letters themselves, or 
state the full contents of them ? — I shew- 
ed the letters themselves, and his Iloyal 
Highness perused them in my presence. 

After you had communicated those 
letters to his Royal Iliglmess, and shewn 
them to him, did he betray the slightest 
apprehension of any thing the witness 
had in her power to communicate ? — Not 
the slightest. 

Did his Royal Highness deny that there 
was any thing that could be published 
against him ? — I cannot be precise to the 
words whicli his Royal Highness might 
have used ; but I can say with confidence, 
that his Royal Highness expressed him- 
self as not at all apprehensive respecting 
any thing which could be ptiblished. — I 
wish to state, that the boy referred to in 
Mrs. Clai'ke's letter is not any boy of the 
Duke of York's. 

LUDOWICK ORRAMIN was called in, 
and examined, as follows : 

In whose service are you ? — His Royal 
Highness the Duke of York's. 

How long have you been in his Roj'al 
Hgihness's service ? — Eighteen years next 
September. 

Have you been constantly in his Royal 
Highness's service during that period ? — 
Yes. 

Do you remember when his Royal 
Highness tised to visit Mrs. Clarke, in 
Gloucester-place ? — Yes. 

Did any, and which of his Royal High- 
ness's servants, ever use to attend his 
Royal Highness there ? — None but myself. 

In what capacity do you serve his Roy- 
al Highness ! — As footman. 

At what time in the day did you »ise to 
go to his Royal Highness ? — Sometimes 
at eight o'clock in the morning. I never 
went to his Royal Highness in the day. 

For what jjurpose did you use to go to 
him ? — To take his clothes. 

Did you ever see Mrs. Clarke there ? — 
Once. 

During how long a time were you in 
the habit of going to his'Royal Highness 

at Gloucester-place ? From tl\e year 

1804 to 1806. 

Are you sure that no other of his Roy- 
al Highness's servants, but yourself, went 
to him there ? — Yes. 

Were you there very frequently during 
that time ? — Yes. 

What was the single occasion on which 



you saw INfrs. Clarke ? — A prompt meg- 
sage 1 received to take a favourite dog 
of his Royal Highness's, for Mrs. Clarke 
to see. 

Was his Royal Highness there at that 
time ? — Ito. 

Are you sure that you never saw Mrs. 
Clarke at any other time but that at Glou- 
cester place !— Not at Gloucester-place. 

Were you ever directed, cither by 
Mrs- Clarke or by his Royal Highness, 
to carry out from Gloucester-place a 
bank-note to be changed ? — No. 

Did you ever cari'y out a bank-note from 
Gloucester-place to be changed ? — No. 

Are you quite certain of that fact ?— 
Yes. 

Upon what ground do you assert, that 
no other servant of the Duke of York's 
ever went to Gloucester-place ? — Because 
I had an order from his Royal Highness, 
that I was to bring those things and no 
other servant ; and no other dared to do it. 
Do yon assci-t, from your own knowl- 
edge, that no other servant of the Duke 
of York's ever went to Gloucester-place ? 
— Yes. 

Can you speak to your own knowledge, 
that no other servant, except yourself, 
ever took a letter from the Duke of York 
to Gloucester-place to Mrs. Clarke ? — 
None but me. 

How many men servants were there in 
Gloucester-place ? — I do not know. 

State as nearly as you can, how many 
men-servants there were there. — There 
were sometimes two in the general. I 
never saw more than two livery-servants. 
How many servants out of livery ;— • 
One. 

What was he ? — Butler. 
AVas there no other servants out of 
livery ? — No. 

Was there a man-cook ? — I do not know . 
that ever there was. 

How often were you in the habits of • 
carrying letters to Gloucester-place ? — 
Verj^ seldom. 

No other servant of the Duke's ever 
did carry them to your knowledge ? — No, 
not to my knowledge. 

Do you know of any other person who 
took those letters ? — No, I do not. 

Did you carry any letters from the 
Duke, that were sent from the Horse- 
Gxiards to Gloucester-place ? — Yes, some 
I did. 

A great many ? — No. 
You stated, that you never saw Mi-s 
Clarke but once at Gloucester-place ii» 
voiu- life ? — No, I ne^ er did. 



61 



To whom did you deliver these letters 
which you took ? — Mostly to the house- 
keeper. 

What was her name ? — Favorite. 

What was the Butler'a»name ? — I do 
not know ; I believe, to the best of my 
recollection, it was Pearce, one of them ; 
the name of the last I do not know. 

Did you ever see Mrs. Clarke any 
where else but at Gloucester-place ? — 
Twice. 

Where ? — I met her opposite Somer- 
set-house. 

Walking in the street ? — Walking in 
the street. 

Three times only have you seen Mrs. 
Clarke in your life ? — Only three times. 

Have you had an}'^ intercourse with any 
one, previous to your coming to this Bar, 
respecting the evidence you have given 
this niglit ? — His Royal Highness asked 
me if ever I did receive a note from him 
or Mrs. Clarke. 

Had you had any intercourse with any 
other person besides his Royal Highness 
previous to your giving your testimony 
tliis night ? — I was asked the same ques- 
tion by Mr. Adam. 

Had you any intercourse of the same 
kind with any other person ? — A Mr. 
Wilkinson, and Mr, Lowten. 

Who is Mr. Willrinsoa ? — A gentleman 
with Mr. Lowten. 

Have you liad any other intercourse 
with any other person, respecting the tes- 
timony you were to give at this Bar ? — No. 

Were the servants, you speak of as 
being at Glo\icester -place, Mrs. Clarke's 
.servants ? — To the best of my knowledge 
ihcy were. 

Are you a foreigner ? — Yes. 

Do you know that they were not the 
Duke of York's servants ? — To the best 
of my recollection, I believe they were 
not the Duke of York's servants. 

Were the directions from the Duke of 
York to you, that no one but yourself 
should go to his Royal Highness, at 
Gloucester-place ?— I had his Royal High- 
ness's instructions, that nobody, if a let- 
ter came, was to go with it but myself. 

When Ills Royal Highness asked you, 
whetlier you had ever carried a b.-mk 
note to change from Gloucester-place, 
what answer did you give him ? — I told 
him, I certainly did not i-ecoUcct that 
ever I carried any note whatever to be 
changed. 

Can you now take upon yourself, upon 
recollection, to state that you never did ? 
— Yes, I can. 



Did you give the s.ame answer to Afr- 
Lowton, and to the other persons who 
asked you ? — I did. 

Are you certain that the Duke of York 
never went in his carriage to Glouces- 
ter place ? — He certainly never did. 

Nor on horseback ? — As far as I know, 
he never did. 

Repeat, as nearly as you can, every 
thing that passed between Mr. Adam, 
Mr. Lowten, Mr. Wilkinson, and your- 
self, upon this subject. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw 
[The witness was again called in, and 
the question proposed. 

Mr. Adam asked me if I was in the 
habit of going to his Royal Highness's 
occasionally, and I answered Ves ; and 
then Mr, Adam asked mc if ever I 
recollected receiving a note either from 
Mrs. Clarke or his Royal Highness, 1 
said I never did ; upon which Mr. Adam 
sent me to Mr. Lowten and IVrr. Wilkin- 
son. Mr, Wilkinson asked me my name 
again, and how long I had been with his 
Royal Highness, and tlicn asked me con- 
cerning these notes, if I CAer changed 
any note for Mrs. Clarke or his Royal 
Highness, of that description, there ; I 
answered no. That is as ncaidy as 1 can 
recollect what passed. 

Has the Duke no vulct-dc-chambro 
that ever went to him at Gloucester-place, 
either at night or in the morning ? — To 
my recollection, his Royal Highness had 
no valet that ever went to Gloucester- 
place. 
[The witness was directed to withdi-aw. 

WILLIAM ADAM, Esq. was further ex- 
amined, as follows : 

Having stated that you have served 
his Royal Highness the Duke of York 
gratuitously, may I be allowed to ask, 
have you a son in the army ? — 1 have, he 
is Lieutenant-Colonel of the 21st regi- 
ment of foot. 

At what age was he made Lieutenant- 
Colonel ? — l\vlll answer that question. 
But as 1 have received a letter which 1 
will presently read to the House, they 
will see the necessity of my answering 
that question by stating the introduction 
of that person, and the progress he 
made in the army. General Sir Charles 
Stuart, who was a friend of my early 
life, asked me if any of my five sons 
had a disposition or inclination for the 
army. I told him that there was one 
of them, then i'ourtcen or fifteen years 
old, who 1 thought had a stvontj t'.'V 



62 



tlcncy Uijit way. He said, you .know 
my fricndsliip for you, and the rules of 
the service permit my making him an 
cnsig'n. He gave him the commission 
of ensign ; his rcg'imcnt was in Canada, 
:ind llie joung person never joined it, 
but was sent by me immediately to 
Woohvicli, to receive a military educa- 
tion regularly : and as I am asked a 
question of this sort, and know its tcn- 
tUni.y, fi'om the letter I have in my 
])ocket, I do not think it becoming in 
me to state, of so neai* and so dear a 
relation, that he distinguished himself 
extremely in the progress at Woolwich. 
He rcceixpi} a second commission of 
lieutenant from General Sir Charles 
Stuart, equally gratuitously with my ser- 
vices to the biike of York. When Sir 
Il;di)h Abercrombie, whom I likewise had 
the honour to call my intimate friend, 
was about to go out to the IJelder, he 
Avent under )iim at the age of sixteen as 
a volunteer. The House will pardon me, 
for jt is Impossible for me not to feel up- 
on this subject i I must state his merits, 
Tliat youtl) landed in a liot fire, and he 
behaved so as to receive the thanks of 
everybody around him ; he remained ac- 
tively engaged in every eng-agement dur- 
ing that expedition ; he had the comm.and 
of such A subdivision of men as a lieuten- 
ant commimds, and they were of those 
troops that were raised as volunteers 
from the militia ; they wci'c raw to ser- 
vice, they required much management, 
and yet he contrived to conduct them 
veil : when lie returned to this coimtr}', 
he received from his Koyal Highness the 
Duke of York, without any solicitation 
whatever on my part, so help me God, a 
commission in his own regiment, the 
Coldstream, having paved the wjiy to 
make him a lieutenant in his own rcgi- 
ment, by giving him a commission in one 
of the regiments that was raised just af- 
ter the afiair of the Helder. I (\o not 
recollect the particular circumstances, 
but it will be easy to get them at tlie 
"War-office, if that is necessary. He re- 
mained in the Coldstream regiment at 
home imtil the expedition to Egypt, when 
}ie went again under Sir Ralph Abercrom- 
bie, whei'c he was accompanied by his 
friend at AVoolwich, who had made a 
similar progress with himself, the son of 
Sir John \Varren, who was killed by his 
side. He was one of those who landed 
>viththe Guards in the illustrious landing 
commanded by Sir Ralph Abercrombie, 
and covered by Lord Keith. 1 have tlic 



happinc?i3 to .say, that he distinguish(»d 
himself equally u])on that occasion. When 
he returned home, the Duke of York a- 
gain gratuitously transferred him to his 
own regiment, with the rank of major ; 
and he rose, as a matter of course, at the 
age, 1 believe, of not quite twenty-one, 
to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the 
second battalion of liis own regiment. 
When Colonel Wilson went abroad with 
General jNIaitland, Colonel Wilson inti- 
mated to me that it would vacate his 
lieutenant-colonelcy ; and the only time I 
ever mentioned his name to the Duke of 
York was to mention that fact, and to 
leave it to his lloyal Highness to do as 
he thought fit : his Royal Highness put 
him in the first battalion : and I have the 
happiness to think, that he has been a 
constant credit to his country, and has 
commanded as well, from the moment lie 
was appointed lieutenant-colonel, as any 
one in the service ; and I desire general 
officers in the service to speak to that. H' 
General Moore were alive, he could do it. 
I now beg leave to read this letter, which 
I should have considered a mere trifle, if 
it were not for this question, and put it 
into my pocket, and probably into tlve 
fire : it is written in red ink. 

[Mr. Adam read an anonymous letter. 

Having given the answer which I have 
to tlie honourable Gentlemen, I am intlie 
judgment of the House, whether I have 
not a right to say, that I have gratuitous- 
ly served the Duke of York. 

COLONEL GORDON was called in and 
examined, as follows : 

What were the merits and services 
that obtained Captain IMaling his rapid 
promotion, and the gift of his three 
commissions ? — I will state tliem to the 
House. The first recommendation lor 
the ensign's commission of Mr. Maling 
I have now in my hand. 

[Col. Gordon read the following letter ; 



Sir, 



" London, 20th Nov. 180j. 
C. L. agreed to. 



" As I am very anxious to have the 
regiment under my command complete, 
1 look the liberty of submitting to his 
Roval Highness the names of Ensigns 
C 6ct.l804:. jYov.lSOi.J 
Hudd and Warren, (the senior of their 
rank and of tlie year 1804) for two of 
the vacant lieutenancies, which his Roy- 
al Highness was graciously pleased to 
accede to ; ! should humbly beg leave 



ds 



to recommend in their succession 

JIurpliy anil John Maling, lionts. I'lu'v 
.ire botli very promisint^ young- men, and 
of the full ag-e prescribe^by his Majes- 
ty's regiilations. * 

*' I have the honour to be, Sir, 
Your most obedient 

and most humble servant, 
J. DOYLE, Lt. General, 
Colonel 87. 
••■ Lt. Colonel Gordon, Sec. &c. Jkc. 
Hoi-se Guards." 

On the formation of the G.irrison Bat- 
talions in November, 1806, when the men 
for limited service were taken out of the 
body of the army, and placed into separate 
battalions, it became necessary, of course, 
to officer those battalions. Ensign Mu.- 
ling, then with the 87th reg-iment, was, 
with four other ensigns, selected for the 
Fourth G.arrison Battalion, then in Guern- 
sey — in the same place in which he was 
serving-. Ensign Maling was the se- 
jiior of three of those ensigns, and he was 
of that standing in the army which enti- 
tled him, not only to promotion in that 
corps, but into almost any other corps in 
his Majesty's service. Th.at will account 
for his promotion to a lieutenancy. Lieut. 
Maling joined the Garrison Battalion to 
which he was appointed, and remained 
with it a considerable period. In Au- 
gust, 1807, this letter was written to me. 

[Col. Gordon read the following letter : 

" August 17th, 1807. 
" Sir, " Cox Sc Greenwood. 

" I have to beg you would be pleased 
to lay before his Royal Highness the Com- 
mander in Chief, my request, that Cap- 
tain Charles Doyle, of the First Gan-ison 
Battalion, may be transferred to the 78th 
regiment, in which corps there is a va- 
cant company, vice Edwards cashierrd. 

I take the liberty to enclose a request 
on the part of Lieutenant Maling- of the 
Fourth Garrison Battalion. 

" I have the honour, Sir, 

to be your obedient servant, 

C. W. DOYLE, 
Lieutenant-Colonel 87th, 
Commanding 2d Batt. 
''To Lieut. Col. Gordon, 
&c. &c. &c." 
" Lieutenant Maling of the Fourth 
Garrison Battalion humbly requests to be 
removed back into the 87th, there being 
vacancies in that corps, and the ensigns 
who were senior to him, are all promoted. 
*• August 17tb, 1807." 



Colonel Gordon. Coiist-quptitly he 

co\dd not be an aide-de-camp. The 
statement of the thing was considcrod 
as sufficient ; the regiment being order- 
ed for embarkation, the Commander in 
Chief w^ould not permit it, nor could the 
officer, consistently with his own honour, 
accept it. The next that we heard of 
Lieutenant JSIaling, now Captain Ma- 
ling, was on the augmentation of the 
Royal African Corps from four compa- 
nies to six companies. In the month of 
last September it became necessary for 
the Commander in Chief to recommend 
to his Majesty two officers to fill those 
vacant companies. Lieutenant Maling 
having been recommended to the no- 
tice of the Commander in Chief, from 
the paper now before the House, he was 
selected for one of those vacant compa- 
nies ; but before he was so selected, I 
spoke to his brother, and asked him if 
he could answer, that if his brother. 
Lieutenant Maling, was appointed to a 
company in the African Corps, tliat he 
wnuld join that corps, and go with them 
instantly to Gorec ; tlie brother assured 
me that he would answer for his doing . 
so ; in consequence of which I submitted 
his name to the Commander in Chief for 
one of those vacant companies, to which 
he was accordingly .appointed. After he 
was appointed, I sent for Captain Ma- 
ling, and repeated to him, as nearly as I 
can recollect, the very words I i*cpeated 
to his brother. He expressed himself 
much honoured in the appointment, much 
flattered with my notice ; and that he 
was in readiness to set oft' inst.antly to the 
army dep6t, to which place I believe he 
did set ofl". Many of tho African corps 
were at that time on board a prison-ship. 
When this prison-ship became too cro\vd- 
ed to hold all the men that it Avas neces- 
sary to imt into it, a detachment was 
sent to (Castle Cornet, in the island of 
(luernsey, tiie only place of security to 
which men of th.at description could be 
sent ; Capt. M.aling went with it : and 
the next that I heard of Capt. Maling 
was this letter, two months and a half af- 
ter he had been appointed : 

[Colonel Gordon delivered in the fol- 
lowing letter : 

" Sir, " Guernsey, 25 July 1808. 

" The Secretary at War having noti- 
fied to me, that I am |to be allowed one. 
aid-de-camp from the 25th April, I beg 
yovi may submit to His Royal Highness 
the Commander in Chief my request to 



64 



be permitted to recommend Lieutenant 
Maling of the 87th Regt. for that situa- 
tion. " I have the honour to be, Sir, 
Your most obedient humble servant, 
i JOHN FRASER, 

M. G. 
**The Adjutant General of 
the Forces, &,c. &.c. &,c." 

(Copy.) 

"Horse-Guards, 30th July 1808. 
♦' Sir, 
" I have the honour to acknowledge 
the receipt of your letter of the 25th 
inst. and to acquaint you, that the 2d 
Battalion of Srth Regiment, to which 
Lieut. Maling- belongs, has been ordered 
to he held in readiness for immediate 
cmbai'kation for foreign service. 
" I have, &c. 
(Signed) HARRY CALVERT, 
A. G. 
"M. Gen. J. Fraser,.&,c. &c. Sic. 
Guernsey." 



(Copy.) 



" Sir, 



■ Horse-Guards, 28th Dec. 1808. 



'Sir, 



Guernsey, 20th Dec. 1808. 



" I beg leave to request permission of 
His Royal Highness the Commander in 
Chief, to employ as my aid-de-camp, 
Capt. John Maling, of tlie Royal African 
Corps, who is at present stationed in this 
island with part of that corps. 
" I have the honor to be. 

Sir, 
Your most obedient humble servant, 
JOHN FRASER, 
« The Adjutant-Gcner;a M. G. 

of the Forces." 

Indorsed : 

" Dec. 27. 

" There was a very large proportion 
of these men at the depot, on boai-d the 
prison-ships, and in other places of con- 
finement ? and of these, it was reported 
that some were men of less bad conduct 
than others, and might be usefully em- 
ployed as soldiers, but that it was hai'd to 
keep them as prisoners for such a length 
of time as might elapse before they could 
possibly ejnbark for Goree. The only 
place for them is Castle Corner, in Guern- 
sey, where their predecessors were, and 
where these men may be trained and 
formed prior to embarkation for Afi'ica. 

" Capt. Maling is a good yoimg man, 
and I should imagine, so long as the corps 
REMAINS IN Guernsey, there could 
not be ;my objection — Maj. Chisholm left 
town yesterday, for Guernsey." 



"I have had the honour to lay before 
the Commander in Chief your letter of 
the 20th instant ; .and am directed to ac- 
quaint you, that his Royal Highness ap- 
proves of Captain John Maling, of the 
Royal African Corps, being employed as 
your aid-dc-camp, upon the Staff of 
Guernsey, so long as a detachment of 
tliat corps remains in Guernsey. 
I have, &c. 

H. CALVERT, 
AG. 
"Maj. Gen. Frascr, See. Sec. &C. 
Guernsey." 

Is it within your knowledge that there 
ai'e several subalterns now in tlie army 
who have served longer than Captain 
dialing ? — Unquestionably, there are a 
very considerable number. May I ex- 
plain to the House : it is the invariable 
practice of the army, at least it has been 
the invariable practice of the present 
Comm.ander in Chief, without one single 
exception, that no junior officer can be 
promoted over the head of his senior, I 
mean in the regiment into which he is so 
promoted : but it never has been the 
practice of tlie army, tliat the promotion 
goes in a regular routine of seniority 
tiirough the whole army, I never heard 
of such a practice. I beg further to ex- 
plain ; 1 conceive it my particular duty 
to take care, and report to the Com- 
mander in Chief that any officer whose 
name is submitted to His Royal High- 
ness is a fit and proper person duly qua- 
lified in all respects as to char.acter, as to 
points of service, and as to His Majesty's 
regul.ations, for the service into which he 
is so recommended ; that Captain Ma- 
ling is so, I did certainly conceive ; and 
I now feel, that he is not only an honour 
to the corps in which he is placed, but I 
do firmly believe that he is as promising 
an officer as any in the army, and as 
likely to do honour to his country. 

Do you mean, that no officer is pro- 
moted over the head of another who is • 
liis senior ? do you mean, that no officer 
is taken out of one regiment and put into 
another, over the head of an officer of 
older rank tlian himself, who was ready 
to purchase in tliat regiment ? — I mean 
distinctly tliis : if there should be a va- 
cant company, for instance in the 5th 
regiment of foot, that any lieutennnt that 
tlie Commander in Chief reco .iiends 



65 



for that purpose, must be senior to all 
the lieuteiiaius of the 5th. 

Then a major of one regiment could 
not be put as lieutenant-colonel into 
another, over the head of a major in that 
regiment of senior date and rank to him- 
self ? — Most undoubtedly not. 
[The Witness was directed to withdraw. 
[The Witness was again culled in. 

Was not cfoloncl Pigot, of a dragoon 
regiment, promoted over the head of a 
senior 'major who then was in that regi- 
ment ? I beg to explain, that whe^v, I 
say this never takes place, it is made a 
special instruction from the Commander 
in Chief to every general officer com- 
manding, tliat he invariably pursues the 
practice I have pointed out, except in 
such cases where he can give strong and 
sufficient reasons to the contrary. With 
respect to Colonel Pigot, I cannot ven- 
ture to take upon myself to speak so de- 
cidedly from memory ; but I believe the 
Honourable Member means Colonel 
Pigot of the 21st Dragoons, now at the 
Cape ; what the special circumstances of 
his appointment were, I do not now re- 
collect ; but whatever they were, they 
were on the special recommendation of 
the lieutenant-general, and colonel of 
tlie regiment, Lieutcnant-General Tarle- 
ton, that I do recollect. 

Do you recollect any unpleasant oc- 
currence happening in consequence of 
that appointment ? — I cannot say that I 
do. 

Can you, from your own knowledge 
say, whether, at the time of Lieutenant 
jNIaling being promoted to a company, 
any recommendations for purchase from 
the commanding officers of regiments, 
of subalterns of senior date to Lieutenant 
Maling, were before the Commander in 
Chief ?— Certainly, a great many ; but 
this vacancy was not by purchase. 

Were there any recommendations of 
senior subalterns for promotion without 
purchase before the Commander in 
Chief ? — It is very likely that there were. 

Can yoti speak positively to that fact ? 
—-I think I can. 

Do you think that they were to any 
great number ? — The army is so very 
extensive, I cannot have any hesitation 
in saying, that they must have been to a. 
very great number. 

Is it not a regulation, that no officer 
shall purchase a company, unless he has 
been two years a subaltern • — It is a rc- 
gul^ ".^n of the army. His Majesty's re- 
gulation, that Q» swbaltern can be prv- 



moted to a company, cither by purchasfe 
or without, under a service of two yeai-s. 

Do you command tlic Royal African 
Corps ? — I do. 

State what has beentlie length and na- 
ture of your services in the army ? — I 
have served His Majesty very nearly for 
26 years ; for the last 24 of which I have 
been employed in every part of the 
world (the East Indies excepted) whei'c 
His Majesty's troops have been stationed 
and with very little intermission. I 
have been four times to the West-Indies, 
and have been there nearly six years ; i 
have been twice to America ; I have 
been all over the Mediterranean ; I have 
commanded a regiment in America ; 1 
have commanded a regiment in the West 
Indies. It has becii my fortune, very 
undeservedly perhaps, to have a sword 
voted for my services ; to have been re- 
peatedly tlianked by general officers 
imder whom I have been placed. It is 
perhaps a singular part of my service, 
tliat I have not only served in every si- 
tuation in the army, from an ensign up 
to my ]n-escnt rank, that a gentlemaJi 
could serve in, but I have also served in 
eveiy situation upon the staft' of the 
army, without one single exception. Of 
this service, twelve years I was a sub- 
altern, nine of that, in constant regi- 
mental duty, five years I think as major, 
two or three years as lieutenant colonel 
with my regiment ; the greatest paat of 
that time abroad. 

Were not the regulations for the pro- 
motion of the army, which you havt» 
mentioned, set on foot originally by tlic 
Duke of York ? — They certainly were, 
when the Duke of York became Com- 
mander in Chief of the army. Prior 
to his being appointed Commander in 
Chief of the army, an officer who had 
money might purcliase up to the rank of 
lieutenant-colonel in three weeks or a 
month, as fast as his separate appoint- 
ments could be passed through each se- 
parate Gazette. 

Does the rule you have stated, of 
not promoting an officer into another 
regiment where there arc officers senior 
to him of the same rank that he filled in 
the regiment from which he comes, apply 
to appointments with or without pur- 
chase ? — It applies to both ; that is, no 
jvmior officer can be permitted to pur- 
chase over the head of a senior officer, 
provided that senior officer is also wil- 
ling to purchse ; I always mean, or unless 
there are special roasens to lhe> <H>ntrary, 



56 



sovneling- rckUng to the misconduct of 
the person. 

Can you take upon yourself to saj', 
that there has been no instance clan offi- 
cer bcing^ promoted into another regi- 
ment, where if it is not a case of pur- 
chase, there is an unexceptionable se- 
nior officer in the same rank ; and where 
it is a case of purchase, where there is 
an unexceptionable officer, able anC wil- 
ling' to purchase ? — I have already sAid, 
that no junior officer can be promoted 
over the head of a senior officer in the 
same reg-imeut, and that the same rule 
applies to purchase ; that is, that nojunior 
officer can purchase over the head of a 
senior officer into a regiment where a 
senior officer is willing to purcliase ; that 
I never knew that rule deviated from, 
except in some particular case or cases, 
upon which a special explanation could 
be given. 

Upon reference to any paper since you 
were last examined here, have you any 
means of accounting for the exchange 
of Lieutenant Colonel Knight and Lieu- 
tenant Colonel Brooke not being in the 
Gazette till the Tuesday ? — I stated to 
the House, I believe, in my evidence 
the last time I had the honour to give 
it in this House, tliat I received the 
Duke's pleasure, his final pleasure, upon 
the subject of this exchange, on the 23d 
of July, which date was upon the ori- 
ginal paper now on the table of the 
House. Since that. time I have obtained 
possession of the original paper which 
uas submitted to His IVIajesty; I now 
hold that paper in my hand. ' The ex- 
change was final with the Commander 
in Chief on the 2od of July, the Tues- 
day ; on Wedensday tiie 24th it was 
made out to be sent to the King, but 
not in time to go by the mail of that day. 
I beg to inform the House, that the maij 
passes through the archway of the Horse- 
Guards exactly at 3 o'clock ; the King 
being at Weymouth on Thursday the 
25th, I sent this paper to his Majesty by 
the mail. Here is his Majestv's signature 

to it " Weymouth, jidy tlie 26th, 

1805 : Commissions agi-eeably to the a- 
bove list, to be prepared for Aly signa- 
ture." This p.aper was returned 

to me on the following day, on Saturday, 
but too late for the Gazette ; it was there- 
fore gazetted on the next Gazette da}^ 
I believe I stated to the House, that when 
I talk of the next Gazette, I mean the 
next Gazette in M'hich military promo- 
tions are announced ; and it will be found 






that no mililary promotions were announ- 
ced in the Gazette on Saturday. I havd 
said that the Commander in Chief had 
decided upon this exchange on the 23d 
of July; on reference to my correspon- 
dence for the month of July, I find these 
papers : — this is an application to the 
Commander in Chief (through mc) from 
an Honourble Member of this House, on 
behalf of his brother, to exchange into 
the cavalry, with Lieutenant Col. Knight : 
[Colonel Gordon read and deliver- 
ed in a letter from Mr. Huskis- 
" son, dated Treasury Chambers,! 

22d of July 1805. 

Colonel Gordon. — My answer is on the! 
23d of July, the day I mentioned before. 

[Col. Gordon read and deleivered in the 
answer, dated the 23d of July, l805. 

(Copv.) " Treasury Chambers, 

"My dear Sir, 22d July, 1805. 

" The condescension I experienced 
lately from His Royal Highness, in al- 
lowing my brother to purchase a major- 
ity in the 8th Foot, is not vinknown to 
you, to wliose friendly assistance I was 
much indebted on the occasion. You 
will probably recollect, that at the "timej 
I mentioned to you the probability that 
my brother would feel anxious for an 
opportunity of getting back into the cav- 
airy, both on account of never having 
served in the infuntry, and from the cir- • 
cum stance of his health having suffered j 
so much whilst serving witli the 25th. t 
Light Dragoons in the East Indias, that 
he is strongly advised against returning, 
at least for some years, to a hot climate. 
Under these circumst.ances, I cannot 
help requesting, if it should not appear 
too mucli presumption on my part, that 
you would submit to His Royal Highness 
my humble request, that he would afford 
my brother an opportunity of exchang- 
ing into the cavalry. Feeling the great 
obligation I am already imder to His" 
Royal Highness, I should not venture 
again to trespass so soon on his indul-- 
gence, if I had not understood that one 
of the majors of the 5th Dragoon Guards 
had signified a wish to exchange into 
the infantry, and that it might be a long 
time before any other opportunity mig-ht 
occur of bringing my brother back into 
that service ; to which, for the reasons I 
have now troubled you witli, he is so 
anxious to be restored. 

" I remain, &c. 
(Signed.) « W. IIUSKISSOX 
" Lt. Col. Gordon." 



er 



CCopy) "Horse-Guards, 

*• My dear Sir, 23d July, 1805. 

"I have not failed to lay your request 
in behalf of your brotlier, before the 
Duke of York ; and ani.*ommanded to 
acquaint you, that H. R. H. will be glad 
of any favourable opportunity, by which 
he can be enabled to accede to it. The 
exchange with Brevet Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel Knight, 5th Dragoon Guards, has al- 
ready been detci*mined upon in favour of 
Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Brooke, whose 
services his Uoyal Highness was of opin- 
ion could not but be favourably consic^- 
ed ; but if your bi'other can find any 
major in the cavalry, who is disposed to 
exchange to the infanti-y of the line, the 
Commander in Chief will have much 
pleasure in recommending the same to 
his Majesty. 

" Yours very faithfully, 
(Signed) " J. W. GORDON. 
*' W. Huskisson, Esq. 
&c. SiC. Sic." 

State what are the regulations that 
have. been established by the Duke of 
York with regard to regimental promo- 
tions, having regard to the period of ser- 
vice in each rank. — The regulations are 
briefly these : an officer must serve as a 
subaltern two years before he can be 
a captain, and he must have served six 
years before he can be a field-officer. 
I never knew any instance of those rules 
having been broken through, always, as 
in merchants' accounts, saying errors 
excepted. 

How many hours in eveiy day does 
the Commander in Chief devote to the 
duties of his Office ? — The Commander 
in Chief commands my attendance upon 
him every morning a little before ten ; 
and he very rarely gives up business un- 
til past seven in the evening, there or 
thereabouts, very often past eight. 

Is not his Royal Highness particularly 
punctual in taking care that the business 
of his Office is conducted in such a man- 
ner, that reference may always be had 
to the cause of any promotion ? — Most 
undoubtedly he is. 

Has not his Royal Highness taken, in 
the instances where commissions are per- 
mitted to be sold, particular precautions 
to confine those commissions to the re- 
gulated price only ?— He certainly has. 
1 believe it will be necessary for me to 
trouble the House still further upon this : 
In the year 1804, when a great augment- 
ation was added to the army of fift^ 

10 



battalions, I did understand that vety 
great abuses were practised with respect 
to the purchase and sale of commissions ; 
that peop'e endeavoured to obtain com- 
missions unduly, that they endeavoured 
to impose upon the officers of the army 
in faking money under the pretence of 
obtaining commissions, and that this 
went to a very great extent. I did repre- 
sent this In the strongest manner to the 
Commander in Chief, who felt it vei-y sen- 
sibly, and expressed the strongest in- 
dignation at it, and commanded me to 
frame an instrument, a copy of whch I 
now hold in my hand, and which waS 
circulated to all the corps of the army. 
With the permission of the House I will 
read it. 

[Col. Gordon read the following letter : 

(Copy.) 

" Circular to Army Agents. 

" Horse-Guards, 
" Gentlemen, September 28, 1804. 

" His Royal Highness the Command* 
er in Chief, having the strongest reason 
to believ© (from the advertisements that 
have frequently appeared in the public 
papers,) that an extensive correspon- 
dence is carried on with the officers of 
the army by persons styling themselves 
Army Brokers, to induce them to enter 
into pecuniary engagements for the pur- 
pose of obtaining commissions, contrary 
to the established regulations ; and it 
being the earnest desire of the Comman- 
der in Chief to check as much as possi- 
ble a practice so extremely prejudicial 
to the service ; I am commanded to call 
your attention to this Important point, 
and to impress upon you the necessity of 
the utmost vigilance, in preventing, as 
far as may be in your power, any com- 
munication whatever with those persons 
and the officers in your agency : And 
should it at any time appear that any 
such commissions shall have been nego- 
tiated through your Offices, tlie Com- 
mander in Chief will consider It liis duty 
to lecommend to the colonels of the 
respective regiments to notice such irre- 
gularity, by withdrawing tlieir regiments 
from that agency, and placing them in 
other hands. 

" I have it further in command, to 
desire that you may be pleased to con- 
vey to the officers commanding regi- 
ments in your agency, the most mark- 
ed disapprobation of his Royal High- 
ness of this improper and secret traffic ; 
and to assvtre them» that if subsequent 



68 



to the date of this letter any commission 
shall he discovered to be so obtained, 
such commission will be immediately 
cancelled, and the officer be reported 
to the King-, as having acted in' direct 
disobedience to the orders of the Com- 



mander in Chief. 
(Signed) 



"J. W. GORDON." 



(Copy) 

"Circular." 

" Horse-Guards, 
"Sir, 19th October, 1804. 

" I have the commands of his Iloyal 
Highness the Commander in Chief, to 
transmit for your information and guid- 
ance, a paper, containing directions to 
be from henceforth exactly observed in 
the purchase and sale of all commissions, 
according to his Majesty's regulations, 
apd which you will please to cause to be 
enforced in the regiment under your 
command. 

" Returns of the officers prepared to 
purchase, are to be made out according 
to the accompanying Form, and to be 
transmitted in the first instance, as soon 
as possible after the receipt of this letter. 
" I have the honour to be, 
" Sir, 
" Your most obedient servant, 
(Signed) " J. W. GORDON. 
** Officer commanding 
Regiment of " 

(Cojij'.) " Horse-Guards, 

19th October, 1804. 

" 1. His Majesty's regulations, in re- 
gard to the sums to be given and receiv- 
ed for commissions in the army, having 
in various instances been disregarded, to 
tiie great prejudice of his Majesty's 
service, his Royal Highness the Com- 
mander in Chief is pleased to direct, 
that when an officer is desirous of re- 
tiring from the service, and of having 
leave to sell his commission, if his regi- 
ment is in Great Britain, he is to send his 
resignation in the usual manner througii 
the commanding officer of his regiment, 
to his colonel, who, in transmitting- the 
same to the Commander in Chief, may at 
the same lime, if there are purchasers in 
the corps, recommend in succession the 
senior of their respective ranks for pur- 
chase ; both the colonel and command- 
infc officer, certifying that they are satis- 
fied that no more than the sum stipulated 
by his Majesty's regulations is given or 
received. 

*' S. yhould there be no purchaser in 



the regiment, the resignation of the offi- i l 
cer desirous to retire is alone to be ■! 
transmitted in the manner and form " 
above-mentioned ; when, should the ap- 
plication be deemed proper to be grant- 
ed, his Royal Highness will recommend m 
to his Majesty such officer for the pur- *■ 
chase as to his Royal Highness may ap- 
pear most eligible. 

" 3. Officers belonging to regiments 
stationed in Ireland, must make their 
applications in a similar course to the 
commander of the forces there ; and on 
fflfcipv stations through the command- 
ing ^officer to the general officer under 
whose command they serve ; tlieir ap- 
plications being imiformly sanctioned by 
their respective commanding officers, 
who are to certify, in the same manner 
as colonels of regiments at home, that 
they are satisfied in regard to the sums 
given or to be received being in strict 
conformity to his Majesty's regulations. 

" 4. Colonels, when absent from Great 
Britain and Ireland, may empower the 
officer in actual command of their regi- 
ments, or their regimental agents, to 
recommend purchasers for vacant com- 
missions, in which case the necessary 
certificates, in regard to the sum to be 
paid in regimental successions, must be 
signed by them in the colonel's absence, 
as well as the recommendation for the 
purchase ; and the person so i-ecommend- 
ingto cornetcies or ensigncies, vacant by 
purchase, will be held responsible for the 
eligibility of the person recommended. 

" 5. The Commander in Chief is fur- 
ther pleased to direct, that when an offi- 
cer is desirous of retiring to half-pay, re- 
ceiving the difl'erence, the same rules 
are to be observed in regard to transmit- 
ting his application ; but no recommend- 
ation in succession is to accompany the 
request to retire, as his Royal Highness 
will himself nominate the officer to be 
proposed to his Majesty for the ex- 
cliange. 

" 6. To enable the Commander in 
Chief to recommend officers for pur- 
chase, it is necessary that regular retui-ns 
of all officers prepared to purchase pro- 
motion should be transmitted from each 
regiment and corps in the service to the 
Commander in Chief's Office, Horse- 
Guards, London, on the 

25th March, 

25th Jime, 

25th September, and 

25th Ui^cember in each year, under 
cover, to his Royal Highness's Military 



G9 



Secretary ; and these returns must par- 
ticularly state wliere the money of each 
individual desirous of purchasing is tedg- 
cd, or to be obtained ; and similar re- 
turns must be forwardecUto the regi- 
mental agents, for tlie Information of 
tlieir respective colonels. 

•' 7. Officers on leave of absence from 
corps on foreign service, may transmit 
their applications to purchase or sell 
througli the colonels of their regiments ; 
and in the event of a cljangc in an offi- 
cer's circumstances between tlie quarter- 
ly returns, he may make a direct com- 
munication to liead-quarters, in order to 
prevent any purchase taking place in his 
own corps, by which he may be passed 
over by a junior officer. 

" 8. 'I'his rule is applicable also to offi- 
cers on tlie recruiting service, or on oth- 
er military duties, whose corps may be 
on a foreign station. 

" 9. Officers on half-pay, desirous of 
exchanging to full-pay, giving the regu- 
lated difl(t;rence, must address themselves 
to head-quarters, stating where their 
money is lodged, or to be obtained, to 
enable tlie (;omm;indor in Cliief to re- 
commend them as vacancies occur. 



" 10. After these orders have been 
circulated, no attention will be paid to 
representations of officers who have ne* 
glected to return themselves prepared to 
j)urchase ; as, whatever hardsliips they 
may suffer in that case must be cntia-ely 
owing to their own neglect. 

"11. In causing these orderS to be 
circulated to the army, the Commander 
in Chief thinks proper to declare, that 
any officer who shall be found to have 
given, directly or indirectly, any tlilnjj 
beyond the regulated price, in disobedi-. 
cnce to his Majesty's orders, or to have 
attempted to evade the regulatiou in any 
manner whatever, will be reported by 
the Commander in Chief to his Majesty, 
in order that he may be removed from 
the .service ; and it is also to be under, 
stood, tiiat the prescribed forms of appli- 
cation for tlie sale and purchase of com- 
missions, and the usual certificates an- 
nexed thereto, are all instances to b(j 
complied with. 

" By command of 

ills Royal Hij^hness the 
Commajider in Cliicf, 
(Signed) J. W. GORDON, 
jNIilitary Secretary-'' 





FORM OF RETURN. 




REGIMENTS. 


Names and Rank of 
Officers desirous to 
purchase Pi'o motions. 


Where their Money 
is lodged, or to be 
obtained. 


REMARKS. 


' 









N, B. TJie Returns to be transmitted to Head Quarters, are (Jirccted to be on r 
.sheet of foolscap paper, 



70 



Colonel Gordon.— \n consequence of 
this letter, it was necessary to issue cer- 
tain regulations, whicli, perhaps, It will 
be unnecessary to trouble the House 
with, but which I will deliver in with my 
letter. I beg leave to add, that that 
strong letter was found totally insufficient 
for the jAirposes ; that it did come to my 
knowledg-c, and that I had proof, that 
those abuses did still exist ; that I put 
that proof into the hands of the most 
eminent counsel at the time, and they 
assured me, that I could have no redress 
against the parties, there was no law to 
the contrary, and that it did not amount 
to a misdemeanour. Having mentioned 
it to the Commander in Chief, I had 
frequent communication with the then 
Secretary .at War, now a Right Honour- 
able Member, of this House, and whom 
I see in his place ; and after frequent 
conferences with this right honourable 
gentleman, he did bring into this house, 
and submit to its consideration, a clause 
which is now part of the Mutiny Act, in- 
flicting a penalty upon all persons, not 
duly authorised, who sliall negociate for 
the purchase or sale of any commission 
whatever. 

You are in the habit of almost daily 
intercourse with the Commander in 
Chief ? — When the Commander in Chief 
is in town ; I do not recollect that I ever 
passed a day without communicating 
with him. 

At the time that this exchange was ef- 
fected between Colonel Brooke and Co- 
lonel Knight, tlie King was at Wey- 
tnouth ? — I have shewn it to be so. 

Did that paper, containing commis- 
sions to be submitted to his Majesty, go 
down to Weymouth by the mail-coach ? 
•—I believe so, I had no other mode of 
sending it. 

Do you recollect the Duke of York's 
gfoing down to Weymouth about that 
time ? — Perfectly. 

Do you know on what day hp went 
down to Weymouth \ — I do exactly. 
On what day ? — It was the 31st of July. 
You have stated, that according to 
the new regulations introduced since the 
Duke of York has been Commander in 
Chief, a certain number of years must 
elapse before an officer can be promoted 
to a certain rank in the army; is any ser- 
vice required by those regulations be- 
sides length of time ? — It is generally 
understood that an officer must serve 
eix years. 

Has it ever come within your know- 
ledge that any officer has been promoted 



without any service whatever ?— No, it 
has not. 

Has it ever come within your know- 
ledge that a boy at school has had a com- 
mission of ensign ? — Yes, it certainly 
has, I think in some three, four or per- 
haps some half dozen instances ; not ex- 
ceeding that; but those commissions Ij 
have been surreptitiously obtained : and II 
when it was known that the boy was at 
school, the commission has been can- 
celled, and that reason given in the Ga- 
zette. 

Have 1;hey been cancelled in every 
instance ? — In every instance that has 
come to the Commander in Chief's 
knowledge ; and the Comm.inder in 
Chief will be obliged to any gentleman 
that woiild point out an instance. 

Could you name those instances ? — 
Xot immediately from my recollection, 
but I can obtain them from reference ; 
but one I can name. I recollect the 
barrack-master of Hythe, I think ; the 
name I do not immediately recollect ; 
but tlie person I do perfectly, recom- 
mending on the score of his own service 
and great distress, that his son should be 
recommended for a commission ; I re- 
collect also having some suspicion at the 
time, tliat this son was not of a proper 
age ; and I do furtlier recollect desiring 
the officer commanding there, then in 
command, to examine the young man } 
and the report of that officer was, that 
he thought him, though young, eligible 
for a commission ; upon such report the 
yoimg man was appointed, but when he 
joined his regiment, the officer com- 
manding that regiment was of a different 
opinion, and reported him as too young, 
and I do perfectly recollect that commis- 
sion was cancelled. 

Is that the only instance which occurs 
to your recollection ? — That is the only 
instance that occurs ; yie name of the 
boy was Kelly. 

You have in that bos by you, papers 
ready to answer questions which have 
been put to you ; had you before you 
came here any idea of the questions that 
would be put to you ?— Upon my word 
I had not the papers that ai-e now in this 
box relative to the exchange of Lieut. 
Colonels Brooke and Knight, part of 
which I have shewn to the House. All 
the others relate to the appointment of 
Captain Maling ; to the appointment of 
all the officers of the African corps, and 
to every thing in any manner connected 
with the African corps. 
You had no information of the other 



7\ 



questions that would be asked you to- 
night ? — Most undoubtedly not. 

You have stated, that you recommend- 
ed Lieut. Maling to be made a captain in 
the African corps ; did };mi recommend 
him in yourcapacity of lieutenant-colonel 
commandant of the African corps ? — I 
most undoubtedly did ; because I know 
it is an extremely diflicult thing to get 
offirers to join such a corps as that in 
such a place ; and I thought it my duty 
to take particular care, that whatever of- 
ficer was appointed to the African corps, 
should clearly understand, that nothing 
was to prevent him from joining it. 

Whom did you recommend to the o- 
ther company which was added to the 
African corps at that time ? — The other 
officer that was recommended for the 
company of the African corps was a Lieu- 
tenant Edward Hare ; his memorial I 
now hold in my hand, if the house would 
choose to have it read. 

[^Colonel Gdrdon read the following 

memorial : 
" Sir, 
" I have the honour to transmit to you 
the memorial of Lieutenant Hare of the 
1st Garrison battalion, which I request 
you will take the earliest opportunity of 
laying before his Royal Highness the 
Commarjder in Chief. 

" I beg leave to state, that Lieutenant 
Hare was remarkably well recommended 
to me, previous to his accepting my ad- 
jutancy, by the Earl of Dalhousie, un- 
der whom he served upwards of two 
years. During the time he was in my 
volunteer corps, his behaviour was such 
as to afford every satisfaction to myself, 
and to all my officers. 

" I have the honour to assure you that 
I am, Sir, 
Your most obedient Servant, 

JOHN LAWSON, 
Lt. Col. Com. Catterick & 
Richmond Vol. Infantry. 
"Brough-h all, 30th August 1808." 

"To Field-Marshal his Royal High- 
ness the Duke of York, Commander 
in Chief, &c. &c. Stc. 
" The Memorial of Lieutenant Ed- 
ward Hare of the 1st Garrison Bat- 
talion ; 
" Sheweth, 
" That Your Memorialist has liad the 
honour of serving his Majesty as a su- 
baltern officer for near fifteen years, the 
particulars of whicli he has had the ho- 
nour of stating to Your Royal Highness 
in a former memorial, accompanied by 
teltimoBials from those under whom he 



has had the honour to serve ; when Your 
Royal Highness was graciously pleased 
to promise him promotion. 

" Your Memorialist is induced, from 
the length and nature of his services, 
liumbly to solicit, that Your Royal 
Highness will be graciously pleased to 
recommend him to his Majesty for u 
company in the Royal African Con-ps, 
or any other regiment Your Royal HigU- 
ness may be pleased to appoint. 
" Which is sul>mitted, 

August 24th 1808." 

"C.T. 



" The Cr. C. has no opportunity 
of recommending him for promo- 
tion, but he may be recommended 
to a regiment of the line, if he is 
desirous of more actual service. 

2d Sept. G. jr. 

C. T. 

" He may be recommended for 
the vacant company, R- A. Corps. 

" Sept. 19, 1808." J. W. G." 

"To Field-Marshal his Royal High- 
- ness the Duke of York, Comman- 
der in Chief of his Majesty's 
Forces, &c. &c. &c. 
" The Memorial of Lieutenant Ed- 
ward Hare, of the 1st Garrison 
Battalion ; 
" Sheweth, 
" That Your Memorialist has been ac- 
tively employed as a subaltern officer 
for upwards of eleven years ; that he 
served in the 2d West York regiment of 
militia from March 1794 till August 
1797, when he purchased an ensignoy 
in the 2d or Queen's regiment, in which 
he served the campaign in Holland un- 
der your Royal Highness's commaud ; 
that he waar appointed lieutenant in the 
35th regiment on the 2d November 1799, 
in which he served near three years in 
the Mediterranean ; that in consequence 
of bad health he was obliged to retire 
upon half-pay in June>1803, without tak- 
ing the difference of exchange ; that ni 
February 1804, hu found his health re- 
covering, when he got the appointment 
of adjutant in the Catterick and Richr 
mond Volunteers, where he served till 
he found himself enabled to return to his 
duty in the line, when he applied to be 
restored to full-pay. 

" Your Memorialist begs leave to offer 
his best thank* for your attention to hi* 
Memorial of the 11th of August last, 
when Your Royal Iliifhuess was pleased 



72 



to order his name to be noted for pro- 
motion ; most humbly and confidentially 
hoping^, that the lenglli and nature of 
his services, together with the testimo- 
nial enclosed, may entitle him to your 
Roval lliglmess's recommendation for a 
Company. EDWARD HA HE, 

Lieutenant 1st Garrison Battalion. 
"Which is submitted, , 
January 4th, 1806." 

*' I certify that Lieut. E. Hare served 
in the 35th regt. from the year 1799, 
M'ith attention and credit, till June 1803, 
when, in consequence of bad health, he 
was placed on half-pay. 

CHAULES LENNOX, 
Col. 35th Regt. and Lieut. Gen, 
« Dec. 9th 1805. 
Lieut. E. Hare, 
1st Gar. Batt." 

" Stockton on Tees, 
« Dear Sir, December 1805. 

" I have great pleasure in bearing tes- 
timony of your exertions and unremitting 
attention in promoting the duty and dis- 
cipline of the Cattei'ick and Richmond 
corps, which, from being placed under 
my inspection, I had every opportunity 
of observing ; and I trust, before long, 
you may again be placed in a situation 
where your zeal and abilities may be of 
service to your country 

" I am, dear Sir, 

Your very obedient Servant, 

THO. B. GREY, 

Lieut. Col. & I. F. O. 

" Lieut. Hare, Yorkshire District. 

1st Garrison Batt." 

" At the request of Lieutenant Ed- 
ward Hare, I certify that he was appoint- 
ed ensign in the 2d West York regiment 
of militia in March 1794 ; was promoted 
to a lieutenancy in the same year, and 
continued to serve till August 1797, when 
lie purchased an ensigncy in his Majesty's 
2d or Queen's regiment ; and, during the 
time he was under my command, always 
conducted himself* with propriety, and 
M'ith attention to his dutv- DOWNE, 
Col."2d West York." 

Colonel Gordon. — This memorial was 
forwarded by John Lawson Lieut-Colonel 
of the Catterick Volunteer regiment, and 
certified by the Duke of Richmond, and 



byLclut -Coloiiel Grey, the Inspecting 
Field Officer of the district. 

What were the services of Captain 
Maling's brother, who is, I believe, a 
captain in the army, who is in the Wai* -Of- 
fice ? — There is a Captain Maling, an as- 
sistant of mine, in the office of the Com- 
mander in Chief; I take for granted that 
is the person referred to. What his ser- 
vices arc as a lieutenant I really do not 
know ; I found him as a lieutenant in the 
office of the Commander in Chief ; and 
in consideration of his extraordinary 
good charactej", and more than common 
abilities, the promotions of the army 
going through his hands under mine, I 
did recommend him to his Royal High- 
ness the Commander in Chief, to be 
placed upon the half-pay as a captain, 
upon which half-pay he most assuredly 
will be placed as soon as an opportunity 
offers ; but the Commander in Chief has 
it not in his power. 

Do you know whether or not that 
Captain Maling ever joined and did duty 
with any regiment ? — I do not know that 
he did ; and I do not think that he did. 

Does not the Commander in Chief re- 
qviire testimonial, tliat each candidate 
for the army shall be at least sixteen 
years of age ? — That is the general rule ; 
btit it sometimes happens that a boy of 
fifteen may be more strong than a boy 
of sixteen or seventeen ; and all that the 
Commander in Chief requires is, that he 
shall be competent to do his duty. 

Is it not a general order, that every 
officer shall join his regiment within one 
month after his appointment, except in 
some special instance ? — It is very pro-, 
bable that it may be so, but I really can- 
not speak to that. 

You are very positive as to the date of 
the Duke of York's going to Weymouth 
in tlie summer of 1805 ; do you know at 
what time of the day his Royal Highness 
went ? — Upon rny word I cannot speak 
with any degree of accuracy ; but it is 
the custom of the Duke of York to travel 
in the night, and he probably went in the 
night. 

Do you apprehend that he did go in 
the night ? — I cannot give a more positive 
an swer than I did before. 

[The witness was directed to withdi'aw. 
The Chairman was directed to repqrt 
progress, and ask leave to sit again. 



Mariis, 7° die Febniarii 1809. 



MR. WHARTON IN THE CHAIR. 



Mr. JOHN FEW was called in, and ex- 
atnined by the Committee, as follows .- 

What business do you carry on ? — An 
auctioneer. 

Do you know Mrs. Clarke ? — Not now, 
I do not. 

Did you ever know her ? — In the year 
1803. ' 

Where did shq then live ? — In Tavi- 
stock-place, next door to Tavistock- 
cli#pcl. 

Did she order any furniture from you ? 
— No ; at that time I lived in Bernard- 
street, Ilussel-square, and I had a share 
in* a glass concern in Holborn. She 
called ; and, by direction of my partner, 
I waited npon her ; it was to consult me 
about fitting' up a Grecian lamp in her 
back room. After she had talked a little 
while, 1 sat down, and drank some wine 
with lier. In the matter of conversation, 
from one thing leading' to another, she 
seemed to be acquainted with almost 
every person that I knew. I sat there 
perhaps about half an hour ; a person, 
whom I understood to be her sister, was 
present. 

Did she represent herself as being a 
married woman, or a person who had 
been married ?- She talked of her late 
husband, and of her children, who were 
then at school. 

What further passed ? — Nothing more 
than general conversation ; I conceived 
that she knew almo.'st every body that I 
knew. I can hardly describe her to you ; 
for I never met with any person who, on 
the first interview, behaved so extremely 
polite and genteel to a stranger : I saw 
her two or three times, and drank wine 
with her ; and she consulted me about 
the placing of some glasses, and the size 
and shape of some figures, whether they 
\\ ere too large for the room. 



Did she give any orders to you ?— 
Yes ; she desired I would have a Grecian 
lamp made, to fit up in the back room, 
which I believe came to about twenty 
pounds. 

What was the price of that lamp ? — 
About twenty pounils, I cannot say ex- 
actly ; the whole of the account with me 
was twenty pounds and odd. 

When was the order given for this 
lamp ? — About the middle of May, abovit 
the 18th or 20th of May ; the first deliv- 
ery to her was the 24th of May, 1803. 

Did you see any one but Mrs. Clarke 
at this house ? — I saw her sister, and I 
saw her mother, but that was uubsequeat 
to my bringing an action against her. 
When I arrested her, she mentioned to 
me at the lime that slie had purchased 
that house of jNlr. Burton, and given 
1,200/. for it : I applied to Mr. Burton, 
and he corroborated her having bought 
it, l)ut I do not recollect the amount. 

Did you ever observe any thing which 
led you to believe she was not a widow ? 
— I "once called, I believe, in the morn- 
ing to see whether the lamp was proper- 
ly hung, or I was asked by an upholstei-er 
to get him a sight of the house, and I saw 
a cocked hat ; I made an observation to 
the servant, and the servant said her 
mistress was a gay young widow, and 
had been at the masquerade the night be- 
fore, and of course I did not suspect any 
thing after that. 

Were you paid for those articles you 

furnished I Subsequently I was ; I 

brought an action against her, but I was 
nonsuited. 

How so ? — I do not understand the 
distinction, but she either pleaded her 
coverture, or gave it in evidence ; I be- 
lieve there is a distinction, but I do not 
know which it was. 

You Were defeated, upon i he ground 



74> 



of her being a married woman ? — Cer- 
tiiinly ; I was in court at the time. 

Did you ever write any letter to Mrs. 
Clarke, upon the subject of this demand ? 
■>-I am pretty certain I did not, I am al- 
most certain I did not ; do you mean the 
demand after my action or before ? I be- 
lieve I did not in either case. 

Do you recollect writing' any letter, 
threatening to expose her ? — I cannot 
gay, I might ; I drew up a hand-bill and 
sent it to her, but whether I sent any 
note to her with that I cannot say ; that 
hand-bill was warning the tradesmen in 
the neighbourhood of Gloucester-place, 
from trusting her. 

Do you recollect sending the hand-bill 
to any body else in a letter ? — Yes, I do 
recollect, I enclosed one to the Duke of 
York, directed to Portman-square : I 
think it was. 

Do you recollect whether you wrote to 
the Duke of York, when you sent the 
hand-bill ? — I do not think I made one 
single letter inside ; I am pretty certain 
I did not. 

Are those letters your hand-writing ?^ 
Yes, this is my hand-writing ; I had not 
the least recollection that I had ever 
written it. 

Is that the hand-bill ? — ^Yes, that is tlie 
hand-bill ; I tried to get a copy of it 
when I was served with the Order of the 
House, but could not. 

[The hand-bill and letter were delivered 
in and read. 

*' Madam, 
**As I have not heard from j'ou 
*' in reply to my last Letter, I think 
*' myself justified in informing you, 
** that in the course of a week the 
*' inclosed Hand-bill will be pub- 
*' lished, which no doubt will pre- 
•* vent any other tradesman from 
" subjecting himself to similar treat- 
" ment. \s the wording of the Bill 
" has received the legal sanction of 
" very able men in the profession, i 
" am perfectly at ease in regard to 
*' any additional threats that may be 
" held out to me. 

" I remain 

" Your obt. serv. 

"John /Vw, jun. 
" 22 June 1804." 

" Mrs. Clarke, 
" Gloucester-place, 
" No. 18. Portman-square." 



« CAUTION TO TRADESMEN. 
"THIS is to give Notice to the 
" Tradesmen in the Neighbom-hood of 
" PoRTMAN-Sq_UARE, that they can- 
" not recover by law any debt from 
" Mrs. Mary Ann Clarke, for- 
** merly of Tavistock-Place, Rus- 
" SELi.-Sq.uARE, but now of Glou- 
" cester-Place, she being a married 
" Woman, and her Husband now llv- 
*' ing, though his place of Residence , 
" was wiknoivn even to herself or her 
*' Mother. These Facts were proved 
« on the trial of an action lately 
** brought by a tradesman in Holburn, 
" ag'ainst this Mrs. Mary Ann 
"Clarke, for Goods actually sold 
" and delivered to her ; but she avail- 
•* ing herself of her Coverture (which, 
" to the great Surprise of the Plaintiff, 
*' she contrived to prove,) he could 
*' not by Law obtain any Part of his 
" Demand ; and, being consequently 
" non-suited, an Execution for her 
" Costs was, by her Attorney, actu- 
" ally put into his, the Tradesman's 
« House ! ! ! 
**W. MARCHANT, Printer, 5, Gfen- 
ville Street, Holborn." 

I understand you to have stated, tliat 
you were paid your bill ; was that subse- 
quent to that hand-bill being published ? 
— Of course it must be. I should hardly 
have published it, if I had had my bill. 
I received the debt and costs. 

Did you recover your bill by any pro- 
cess of law ? — I could not. 

You were paid it entirely through the 
will of Mrs. Clarke ? — It is impossible 
for me to say ; I did not receive it from 
Mrs. Clarke. 

After being non-suited, and after that 
h.and-bill had been published, Mrs. 
Clarke paid you your bill ? — I cannot say 
it was Mrs. Clarke, I received the mo- 
ney through a Mr. Comrie ; it was im- 
material to me who paid it. 

Did you know Mr. Comrie to be Mrs. 
Clarke's professional man ? — That, was 
impossible to say ; Mr. Stokes defended 
the action, and afterwards Mr. ComMe 
paid me the money. 

Is Mr. Comrie a la\rj'er ? — I believe 
so. 

Do you know that he was Mrs. Clarke's 
lawyer ? — It is impossible for me to know 
that, because one defended the action, 
and then it came to Mr. Comrie ; it was 
impossible for me to tell. 

Did Mr. Comrie defend the action 



75 



against Mrs. Clarke ? — No ; Mr. Stokes. 
I believe so, because Mrs. Clarke told 
me afterwiircls, that she never authorised 
Mr. Stokes to give that plea. 

Mr. Comrie paid yflu the money ? — 
By his Clerk. 

[The witness was directed to with- 
draw. 

Mr. THOMAS STOWERS was called in, 
and examined by the Committee, as 
follows : 
Did you know Mrs. Clarke before she 
was married to Mr. Clarke ? — 1 did not. 

Did you know her after she was mar- 
ried to Mr. Clarke ? — I did. 

Do you remember the time when Mr. 
Clarke was married to her ? — I never 
knew the time. 

What business did Mr. Clarke then 

carry on ? When I first knew Mrs. 

Clarke, by being wife to Mr. Clarke, he 
was not in business just at that time ; he 
was a young man. 

What business did he afterwards carry 
«n ? — That of a stone-mason. 

Was that soon after his marriage ? — I 
cannot speak to that ; I did not imagine 
that he was married so soon as I under- 
stood he had an acquaintance with this 
lady. 

Did he carry on the business of a stone- 
mason while she was living with him ?— 
He certainly did. 

For how long ? — Not less than three 
Or four years. 

Was she living with him all that time ? 
—As I never visited them, 1 cannot un- 
dertake to say she lived with him all that 
time, but I conceive she lived with him 
the principal part of the time. 

Had they any children ? — Not less than 
three. 

Were those children born during the 



lane, where he carried on the business 
of a mason. 

When was this ? — He commenced there 
somewhere about 1794, and he lived 
there about three or four years. 

Had Mr. Clarke a stone-mason's yard 
there ? — He had. 

At the first place he lived at ?— In 
Charles's-square, Hoxton, he lived on his 
fortune ; he had no business. 

Did you visit at his house ?— I never 
did visit him at any time wherever he 
lived. . • 

Did you know Mrs. Clarke by sight ?— 
Yes, I did. 

Did you know when Mrs. Clarke 
parted with her husband ?— No, indeed 
I did not. 

You have no guess when she parted 

from her husband ? No further than 

that it was after they quitted Golden- 
lane I understood. 

Do you recollect who told you so ? — 
No ; public report. 

You know nothing about the matter, of 
your own knowledge ? — I do not. 

Where do you yourself live ? In 

Charter-house-square. 

[The witness was directed to with- 
draw. 



Mr 



JAMES COMRIE was called in, 
and examined by the Committee, as 
follows : 
Do you know Mrs. Clarke ? — I do. 
Have you been employed by her in 
your professional line ? — I have. 

What is your profession ? A soli- 
citor. 

Had you ever any conversation with the 
Duke of York respecting Mrs. Clarke ? 
—In consequence of Mrs. Clarke's wish- 
ing me to wait upon the Duke of York, 
I said that I should wish to receive a 
time he was carrying on the business of message for that purpose from his Royal 
a stone-mason ? — Some of them were. Highness. I did receive such a message. 

Where did Mr. Clarke live at the time I think in writing ; in consequence of 
you speak of ? — The first part of the v/hich, I waited upon the Duke of York 
time he lived in Charles's-square, Hox- in Portman-square. 

■ ■ - - . g^^^^g ^Y]^\, passed. The Duke of 

York spoke to me upon private profes^ 
sional business ; 1 therefore appeal to 



ton ; then he was not in business as a 
mason. 

Was Mrs. Clarke with him at that pe- 
riod ? — Certainly she was. 

How long did they live there ? — As I 
did not visit them, 1 cannot speak posi- 
tively ; I know it was not less than one 
year, and, I should imagine, not more 
tlian two. 

Where did they live afterwards ? — I 
do not know of their living any where 
else, till they went to live iu Goklen- 
11 



the Chair, with great submission, wheth- 
er, under those circumstances, I am 
bound to divulge it. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

[The witness was again called in, and 
informed, that it was the pleasure of 
the Committee that he shoidd an- 
swer the last'questivn.Q 



76 



ills Royal lli!^lines5 wished to know 
whether I could raise him the sum of 
10,0001. upon mortg'as^e. 
([The witness was directed to withdraw. 

[The witness was ag'ain called in, and 

proceeded as follows :] 
I answered, that I believed I could. 
His Roval Hig-hness, after some conver- 
sation, referred rrtfe to his man of busi- 
ness, Sir. William Adam of Bloomsbury- 
square. His Royal Hij^hness asked me 
if 1 knew him ; I replied, not personally, 
but by reputation. I mentioned that I 
knew him to be a man of very high cha- 
racter. Shortly afterwards, I called upon 
Mr. Adam, and saw him : I think he men- 
tioned that his Royal Hig-hness had told 
him I was to call upon him (Mr. Adam ;) 
we proceeded to discuss the business, and 
Mr. Adam said that his Royal Highness 
had occasion i'or tliat sum, I think he said 
to complete the purchase of some tithes 
in tho vicinity of Oatlands ; 1 am not quite 
Sure as to that, Init I think it was so ; and 
he said his Royal Highncss's then solici- 
tors, Messrs. P'ai'rer and Atkinson, would 
shortly send me the necessary abstracts, 
which they did. In the mean time, I had 
applied to a client of mine, a rich client, 
and he had agreed to lend his Royal High- 
ness the money. The abstracts were laid 
before a conveyancer, Mr. Walker of the 
Temple. We made some objections, I 
think, which is usual in those cases, ques- 
tions to be answered ; it g-enerally hap- 
pens so. The money was ready to be 
advanced, and the abstracts were return- 
ed to Messrs. Farrer and Atkinson, to an- 
swer tliose queries. 1 should state, that 
for expedition (for it was mentioned that 
expedition was necessary) I had copies 
made of those abstracts to accelerate the 
business. I returned the ahstr.acts to 
Messrs. Farrer and Atkinson, but those 
that I returned were never sent back to 
me, and the loan was afterwards declined, 
and Messrs Farrer and Atkinson desired 
me to send in my bill, which I did. 

Had you ever any conversation, eitlier 
at that time or anv other, with the Duke 
of York, about Mrs. Clarke ?— I had. 

Do you recollect that he ever assigned 
anv reason that was prejudicial to her 
character, when he parted with her ? — 
The Duke of York stated to me, that he 
h.id been served with a subpana to a^ 
pear in the Court of King's Kench ; I 
think it was on a trial which was then 
pending, in which Mrs. Clarke was the 
Defendant ; wlxich subpoena had been ac- 



companied by a very severe letter, de« 
scribing her very improper conduct in 
having pleaded her covertui*e to an ac- 
tion brought for goods sold and deliver- 
ed ; and I think, upon a Bill of Exchange, 
one or either, I do not immediately re- 
collect which. His Royal Highness stat- 
ed that that was tlie i-eason which occa- 
sioned the separation. 

Do you mean to state, that you under- 
stood from the Duke of York, that she 
had done so without his knowledge ? — He 
did not state that ; but he said, after such 
a thing as that, it was impossible but that 
they must separate, or words to that ef- 
fect. 

Did he complain of any other bad con- 
duct in Mrs. Clarke ? — I do not recollect 
that he did. I think his Royal Highness 
said, that he had sent the letter and sub • 
pccna to Mr. Adam. 

Do you recollect any thing further that 
passed in the conversation ? — There was 
something passed about the allowance to 
be made Mrs. Clarke. 

Do you recollect what that allowance 
was ? — His Royal Highness the Duke of 
York and Mr. Adam being present, it 
was mentioned and agreed to, that she 
shovdd be allowed 4001. a year ; but it 
was expressly mentioned that she must 
pay her own debts. Upon my mention- 
ing the difficvdty of that, for she had 
told me she was very short of money, 
his Rojal Highness said it was not in 
his power then to pay them, but that 
she had some furniture and valuable ar- 
ticles with which she could easily pay 
her debts. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

[The witness was called in again. 
Do you recollect paying a bill due to 
Mr. Few, for Mrs. Clarke .' — I'here w.as 
a Mr. Few who had a demand upon Mrs. 
Clai'kc, and I paid that ; I do not know 
the amount. 

You ])aid it on her account ? — I did. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw, 

DAVID PEIRSON was called in, 
and examined by the Committee, as 
follows : 

With whom do you now live as butler ? 
— Tlie Honourable Mr. Turner. 

Did you live as butler in Gloucester- 
place when Mrs. Clarke was under the 
protection of the Commander in Chief ; 
— Yes, I did. 

Do you recollect in the summer of 
1805 the Duke of York going to Wey- 



I 



77 



iwouth, and Mrs. Clarke to Worthing ?— 
Vcs, I do. 

Do you recollect liudowick, the ser- 
vant that used to attend the Duke of 
York, being ordcred^by the Duke on 
an evening abojit that period, to take a 
bank bill out, and to get it changed ?— I 
do not. 

Do you recollect any servant being or- 
dered bv the Duke to get a bank note 
changed ? — 1 recollect the housekeeper, 
Mrs. Favorite, bringing down a bill in a 
morning, and Ludowick going out and 
getting it changed, and coming back and 
giving it to Mrs. Favorite again, and she 
took it up stairs. 

Do you recollect any servant being or- 
dered by the Duke to get a bank note 
changed ? — No. 

Df> you recollect Ludowick taking out 
a bank ntjle to be changed ? — Yes I do, 
on a morning. 

Did you hear him ordered to do so by 
any body ? — The housekeeper gave him 
the note ; I saw her give him the note, 
and he took it out. 

Do vou know the amount of the note ! 
— No, 1 do not. 

Did you hear the housekeeper give him 
the order .' — Yes, I did. 

Do you recollect what order she gave ; 
in what words ? — No, I do not in particu- 
lar recollect what order she gave him ; 
but she gave liim a note, and he was to 
go and get it changed. 

Are you positive that that note was not 
given on the niglit, and the change brought 
back in the morning ? — I am positive I 
saw it given. 

Was his Royal Highness the Duke 
of York in Mrs. Clarke's house at the 
time this note was delivered to ludowick 
to get changed ? — Yes, he was up stairs. 

At what time of the morning was this ? 
^— Near eight o'clock. 

Do you know that the Duke was up ? — 
I am not certain of that. 

How long did you live with Mrs. 
Clarke in Gloucester-place .' — About fif- 
teen month.s. 

State whether any and what servants of 
the Duke of York came to Gloucester- 
place during that time ! — I never saw any 
one but Ludowick. 

Can you state, as far as it came within 
your own knowledge, that no other ser- 
vant of the Duke of York's came there ? 
— I never saw any other servant of the 
Duke of York's come to the house, but 
Ludowick. 

In wliat year, and in what mnnth in 



what year, did this transaction happen ?— ■ 
About three years ago. 

Do you know the amount of the note I 
— I do not. 

Do you mean that this passed about 
the month of January 1806 ?— I mean in 
July or August, some time then about ; 
it was hot weather when Mrs. Clarke 
went to Worthing ; I do not recollect 
exactly the time, but it was in the sum- 
mer time. 

How long was it before Mrs. Clarke 
went to Worthing ; was it the day be- 
fore or two days before, or three days 
before ? — I do not recollect exactly ; but 
it was a short time before she went to 
Worthing. 

Was it more than three days I — I can- 
not be exactly certain to the time. 

Is this the only note that you ever re- 
collect Ludowick to have changed ? — The 
only note. 

Did Mrs. Clarke go to Wortliing the 
same day that the Commander in Chief 
went to Weymouth ; did they both leave 
London the same day ?— I think the next 
day in tlie morning ; that his Royal High- 
ness went away between twelve and one 
o'clock, and Mrs. Clarke at four or ilve 
the next morning. 

Was it the morning of the snme day th.at 
his Royal Highness went to Weymouth, 
that Ludowick took the note out to be 
changed ? — It was some morning a little 
time before. 
([The witness was directed to withdraw 

Captain HUXLEY SANDON was called 
in, and examined by the Committee, 
as follows : 

What interest had you in Colonel 
French's levy ? — 1 was conccwied with 
him in the levy. 

In what way and to what extent ? — 
A letter of service was given to us both, 
Colonel French and Captain Handon. 

Do you know Mrs. Clarke ? — I do. 

Did you or Colonel French apply to 
Mrs. Clarke for her influence with the 
Commander in Chief, in order to your 
having this levy ! — In the hrst instance 
we were informed, that it was a person 
who had great interest with a leading 
person in this kingdom : we did not know 
at the moment that it was Mrs. Clarke. 

When you discovered it was Mrs 
Clarke, "state you proceedings. — We 
did not discovcr"it till we had the letter 
of service. 

What passed with the person whom 
Tou afterwards discovered' to be Mr$. 



78 



Clarke, before you knew her to be so ? 
—We proceeded \ipon our letter of ser- 
vice. 
fThe Witness was directed to withdraw. 

[The Witness was again called in.] 
Who gave you the information that 
took you to Mrs. Clarke ? — Mr. Cockayne, 
who was my attorney, informed me that 
if I had any thing particular to ask for in 
the War -office, or at the Commander in 
Chief's Office, in all probability he could 
recommend me to a person who could 
do any thing in that way for me that I 
choose to request. 

Did he recommend you to Mrs. Clai-ke ? 
— He recommended me to her agent. 

Wlio was her agent ? — I understood a 
nwisic-master of the name of Corri. 
f The Witness was directed to witlulraw. 
[The Witness was again called in.] 
Through the means of Mr. Corri had 
yoa any interview with Mrs. Clarke ? — I 
really do not know. 

Had you any interview with Mrs Clarke? 
— It was a long time afterwards that I 
ever saw Mrs. Clarke, 

How long afterwards ? — I should pre- 
sume a month after the letter was grant- 
ed ; near upon a month ; I cannot exact- 
ly say, perhaps, to a week ; it might be 
three weeks. 

When you had an interview witJi Mrs. 
Clarke, can you recollect what passed 
between yourself and her ? — Nothing 
passed between Mrs. Clarke and myself, 
because every thing was arranged and 
settled. 

For what purpose did you apply 'to 
Mrs. Clarke ? — It was settled previous 
to that ; the letter of service was granted 
and I had every thing that was asked. 

For what did you apply to Mrs Clarke? 
—Mrs. Clarke wished to see me. 

What passed when she did sec you ? 
Very little. Colonel French asked me 
to go to Mrs. Clarke, who was, as we 
supposed, the lady, or the person, or 
the agent, for we did not at that time 
know whether it was male or female, 
at least I did not know when I went to 
Gloucester-place, I found it to be a fe- 
male. 

Do you know whether Colonel French 
had, previously to that, seen Mrs. Clarke ? 
— Most assuredly he had. 

Do you know when Colonel French saw 
Mrs. Clarke ? — No, I cannot pretend to 
say when. 
Do you know whether Colonel French 



saw !VTrs. Clarke before he received his 
letter of service ? — I rather think not; 
tlie letter of service was granted before 
he saw Mrs. Clarke. 

Then you do know when Colonel i 
French saw Mrs. SClavke ? — No, I do '1 
not, for Colonel French was going to ■ 
Ireland, he was taking that part of the 
letter of service ; the letter of service 
was so extensive, it was for England, 
Ireland and Scotland ; he took for Ire- 
land and Scotland, and left me to take 
that for England. 

At this interview between yourself and I ! 
Mrs. Clai-ke, what passed ? — I really can- 'l| 
not recollect. ■ 

Do you recollect the substance of it ? — 
No, he came to introduce me, merely to 
say, that was Captain Sandon, and this 
was Mrs. 'Clarke. 

Do you recollect that the levy was 
spoken of that day ? — No ; I cannot take 
upon me to say that it was mentioned. 

Can you take upon you to say that 
it was not mentioned ? — No, nor can I 
take upon me to say it was not men 
tioned. 

Do you recollect when you or Colonel 
French mentioned the levj' to Mrs. Clark ? 
"-Colonel French had seen her previous 
to my having ever seen her. 

Had Colonel French mentioned the levy 
to her, previous to your seeing her ? — I 
really cannot say that. 

Of your own knowledge, do you know 
that the levy had been mentioned to )icr ? 
—I really cannot say, Colonel French 
had seen the person who was to get that ; 
he never mentioned to me whether it was 
male or famale. 

Who was that person ?---I really can- 
not say ; I never knew her till I had the 
pleasure of being introduced to her, and 
then I found it was Mrs. Clarke. 

When was the first time that you re- 
collect having spoken yourself to Mrs. 
Clarke upon the subject of the levy ?— I 
really do not recollect any thing about it, 
fortius reason, the business was entirely 
settled between Mrs. Clarke and Colonel 
French, and I thought I had nothing at 
all to do to interfere in it. 

State the way and the terms on which 
the business was settled between colonel 
French and Mrs. Clarke and yourself. — 
Colonel French and Mrs. Clarke made 
it their agreement, which I did not un- 
derstand ; I was not present when tliey 
spoke about it. 
What passed between colonel Frencli 



79 



nd yourself upon the subject ? Of 

ourse we wished to get the levy ; the 
L'tter of service. 

What ineuns did you take to get tiie 
jtter of service ? — I undAstood from Co- 
:>nel French, tliat he was to give a cer- 
ain sum of money for it. 

What passed between you and Colonel 
"rench upon tliat subject. 

£Tlie witness was directed to withdraw. 

fTlie Witness was again called in, and 
the question was proposed.] 

Wlicn I saw him, he told me as he had 
)eforc, tliat he had settled every thing 
vith Mrs. Clarke. 

Do you know what were the terms con- 
;luded by that settlement ? — Yes, he in- 
"ormed me that he was to give her 500 
guineas. 

^^'h;lt furtlier ? — I understood that he 
fave her the 500 guineas afterwards. 

Do you mean, that that was the only 
igreement with Mrs. Clarke, upon the 
subject ? — I cannot take upon me to say 
tvhat he made with lier, that was the only 
j.groemcnt that I know of. 

Did you yourself make any agreement 
whh virs. Clarke ? — None. 

You have stated that of 3'our own 
knowledge, you were not aware of any 
^tlicr bargain than the 500 guineas ? — 
Not till he went to Ireland ; but previous 
to his taking leave of me he told me that 
if she wanted more money, 1 was to give 
it to her. 

To what amount did he authorise you 
to go ! — As far as five or six or seven hun- 
dred pounds more. 

Do you recollect any application being 
made to Mrs. Clarke, for any alteration 
in the original letter of service ? — There 
were a variety of alterations in the letter 
of service, because the bounty of difT'cr- 
ent recruits were raised ; in the first in- 
stance, we had it at thirteen guineas, the 
bounty was raised to nineteen ; we thought 
of course we were entitled to that nine- 
teen guineas,; we applied to Mrs. Clarke 
to get that enlargement, without any oc- 
casion for doing it, for of course we could 
not get men at thirteen guineas when the 
line allowed nineteen guineas. 

You mean that the other recruiting 
parties were allowed nineteen, and that 
you were allowed thirteen ? — of course. 

And that you were not allowed the 
nineteen till after you had applied to 
Mrs. Clarke to use her influence to get 
the nineteen allowed to you ? — All re- 
cruiting parties were precisely in the samp 



situation ; thotigh we applied ^o ^rr.«!. 
Clarke, it must come otherwise, or our 
recruiting was at an end ; we could not 
get a man. 

You stated, that the other recruiting 
parties were allowed nineteen, but that 
Colonel French's levy was not then ad- 
vanced ? — It was the order from Govern- 
7nent that every recruiting party should 
receive nineteen guineas, it was found 
that the thirteen guineas were not suHl- 
cient, the bo\mty was raised ; and though 
we had engaged to do it for thirteen we 
could not do it for that ; and on the gene- 
ral bounty being raised, we applied, and 
had ours raised too. 

To whom did you apply ? — To the 
Commander in Chief, of course. 

Then you did not apply, upon that oc- 
casion, to Mrs. Clarke ? — There was no 
occasion for it. 

Do you recollect that you ever applied 
to Mrs. Clarke upon any other occasion 
relative to the levy I — I do not recollect 
that we did. 

As to boys ? — That brings something to 
my recollection about boys, that in every 
hundred men we were to have ten boys,, 
which were to be allowed tlie bounty of 
the men ; but the letter of service will 
state it better than I can, for it is in the 
letter of service. 

Do you mean to state, that there was 
no alteration made or applied for with re- 
gard to boys, after the original letter of 
service ? — Not after the letter of service. 
What alterations were made in that 
letter of service ? — The ten boys to the 
hundred men. 

Was that done through the Influence 
of Mrs. Clarke ?— I cannot take vipon me 
to say; for colonel French was the per- 
son Avho entirely finished the business 
with Mrs. Clarke. 

Do you recollect that you ever went to 
the Commander in Cliief, in consequence 
of any communication or message sent 
to you by Mrs Clarke, at Lyon's Inn ?— 
I do not recollect it in the smallest de- 
gree. 

Do you recollect any gentleman bring- 
ing you a note or message to such elfect? 
— I cannot take upon myself to say any- 
thing about it; I do not remember. 

Do you know Mr. Dowler ? — I once 
Iiad the pleasure of seeing him at Mrs. 
Clarke's. 

Do you recollect any thing particular 
that passed .' — TVot a syllable whatever 
passed between Mr. Dov.l cr and rn\ self 
rpon the subject. 



«0 



Dd you recollect Mr. Dowler calling 
Upon you at Lyon's Inn ? — Mr. Dowler 
was never at my chambers ; at least I 
never saw him there. 

Do you recollect that, in consequence 
of an)r communication with any person at 
any time from Mrs. Clarke, you attended 
on the Duke of York ? — I once, in com- 
pany with colonel French, waited upon 
the Commander in Chief, to return him 
thanks for having given us the levy. I 
never saw the Commander in Cliief after- 
wards upon that subject. 

State what sum or sums of money were 
paid to Mrs. Clarke by yourself, or with 
your knowledge, upon this levy business ? 
— At various times, I conceived that I 
paid her 8001.; it might be 8501., but 
not more. 

Do you recollect giving a check upon 
Mr. Grant for 2001. in favour of Mr. 
Corri, on account of the levy .' — Perfectly 
well ; but it was not a check, it was a 
draft at two months : but it was not for 
Mrs. Clarke, it was entirely for Mr. 
Corri, who acted as the agent from her to 
Mr. Cockayne, the attorney. 

Do you recollect any thing of a loan of 
50001. to the Commander in Chief, that 
it was in agitation should be advanced 
him by colonel French ? — I never under- 
stood colonel French to have 5001. in 
the world ; therefore how he could ad- 
vance five thousand, I cannot tell ; for 
our account with our agent will shew we 
were very minus indeed, for we owe him 
38001. upon the levy. 

You do not recollect any mention of 
•uch an advance upon the part of colonel 
French ? — Most assuredly not. 

You have stated, that five hundred 

fuineas was to be paid Mrs. Clai-ke at 
rst; and then, that vou have paid her 
from 8 to 9001. since'?— I think 8501. I 
have the exact sums in my pocket-book ; 
it appears by that, that it is 8501. 

Can you state, whether that 8501. arose 
out of any particular agreement, at so 
much a man raised, or in what propor- 
tion Mrs. Clarke was paid ? — It was to 
be general ; if our levy Jiad succeeded, 
We were to have made her a present of 
perhaps a couple of thousand pounds : 
It appeared to me there was no explicit 
agreement tliat a certain sum should be 
given. But our levy failed, and we were 
very much out of pocket ; she was the 
only gainer, I believe, upon the business. 
Do you recollect how you remitted her 
these sums you have mentioned ? — Gener- 
ally by bank notes ; I generally gave 
thei^ to her mj-^elf. 



Did you ever give her any large sum- 



of the 8501. at once ? — Two hundred ^W 
pounds was the largest sum I ever gave 
her at once. 

Endeavour to recollect, whether Mr. 
Dowler did not call upon you at Lyon's- 
Inn, and that you yourself might state 
that Mrs. Clarke was overpaid, and that 
you had no money for Jier at that time ? 
—No. 

You do not recollect any thing of that 
circumstance ? — No ; Mr. Dowler never 
called upon me with that message. 

Colonel French never stated exactly to 
you the original bargain between him 
and Mrs. Clarke ? — I understood the 500 
guineas in the first instance, and 2001. to 
Mr. Corri, and it was left to my discre- 
tion to make up the 20001. as the levy 
succeeded, or not ; if we succeeded in 
the levy, we might Jiave gone on to the 
20001. perhaps ; if not, it was left entirely 
to my discretion. 

You have stated that you never saw 
Mrs. Clarke till after the letter of service 
was granted ; but in a former part of yo\ir 
evidence you have stated, that you had 
some dealings with respect to this busi- 
ness with one Corri, a music-master : 
what passed between yourself and Mr, 
Corri ? — Precisely what I have related : 
that he was to have 2001. for the intro- 
duction, and any thing that Mrs Clarke 
and colonel French settled ; lie had no- 
thing more to do with it. 

I understand you to have stated that 
to have passed previous to the gi-anting 
of the letter of service ? — The two hun- 
dred pounds was paid to liim after the 
letter of service was granted ; because, 
if nothing was carried, he was to receive 
nothing. 

This stipulation was made with Mr. 
Corri, in case he should succeed, by 
means of Mrs. Clai-ke, in procuring the 
letter of service ? — He did not precisely 
know what it was we wanted of Mrs. 
Clarke ; we did not tell him what we 
wished to speak to INIrs. Clarke upon. 

You mean to state, that you only ap- 
plied to Mr. Corri for an introduction to 
Mrs. Clarke, without stating what use 
you meant to make of that introduction ? 
— We certainly did not inform Mr. Corri, 
the music-master, what we meant to do 
with Mrs. Clarke. 

You mean to state, that you only ap- 
plied to Mr. Corri for an introduction to 
Mrs. Clarke, without stating what use 
you meant to make of that introduction ? 
— Mr. Corri spoke to Mr. Cockayne, to 
make him a friend ; Mr. Cockayne was 



81 



the person that we had to do with upon 
the business altog'ether ; Mr. Corri had 
notliins' to do with it, he did not know 
what we were to do with Mrs. Clarke ; 
it was merely that he eould get letters or 
any proposition conveyed to her. 

Vviiat passed with iSlr. Cockayne ? — 
I do not know wliat passed between him 
and Mr. Cockayne. 

You have mentioned, that several sums 
were at^-eed to be paid to Mrs. Clarke ; 
state whether you know tl)at i'lict of your 
own knowledg-e, or whether it is by hear- 
say from Colonel French ? — The 8501. I 
paid myself : tlie 500 guineas, I undei'- 
stood from Colonel French, that he had 
paid. 

How often did you see Mrs. Clarke 
daring the negotiation respecting this 
levy ? — Previous to the letter of service 
being granted, I never saw her. 

How often did you see her during the 

whole negotiation ? 1 dare say iifty 

times. 

Was any direct application made to 
the Commander in Chief, upon the sub- 
ject of this levy, from Colonel French 
and yourself ? — Of course a regular ap- 
plication was made from Colonel French 
and myself, to grant us this letter of ser- 
vice ; that went tlirough the regular of- 
fice, and we received the regular answer. 

It was long subsequent to that, that 
you and Colonel French applied to otlier 
individuals upon the subject ? — Tliat I 
cannot take upon me to say. Colonel 
French came to town, he had been rais- 
ing two levies in Ireland, he had raised 
tliem with promptness and credit to him- 
self, and great satisfaction to the Com- 
mander in Cliief ; he asked me, whether 
I would join him in getting tiie levy, and 
I imagined that the length of my service 
entitled me to ask of the Commander in 
Chief for this levy with colonel French. 

For .what purpose was the sum of 500 
guineas promised by colonel French to 
Mrs. Clarke ? — When we understood that 
this music-master could introduce us to a 
person in very great power, we thought 
that we had better give the five hundred 
pounds fwr their assistance, whoever it 
was, whether male or female ; and then 
in the regular form, we applied to the 
Commander in Chief. 

Had you not reason to believe that the 
application would be refused by the Com- 
mander in Chief at that time I — It had 
not been refused, we never had a refusal ; 
we did not put it to the trial. I really 
cannot say whether the Commander in 



Chief would refuse it or not, I do not 
see why he should refuse it. 

Had you not reason to believe, that 
the application would be refused by the 
Commander in Chief at that time ?— Ihad 
no reason to believe it would be ; we had 
done nothing that was improper, and why 
siiould it be refused ? I do not think it 
would have been refused. 

If J ou did not think that the letter of 
service would be refused, how happened 
it that any application was made to any 
other person than the Commander in 
Chief, and why .was a sum of money pro- 
mised to obtain it ? — It would facilitate 
the letter of service when we presented 
the letter, of course ; and that was the 
reason why we applied to the person i» 
povrer. 

How long was the promise of 500 
guineas, before the letter of service was 
granted ? — It Was a long time before we 
got the letter of service ; it was very 
near upon two months or ten weeks be- 
fore we got it, after the first proposal. 

^\'hat was the reason alleged by colo- 
nel French to you, for the further advance 
of the 7 or 8001. ? — He gave me no par- 
ticular reason ; he said that I had better 
give her that sum ; he gave me no par- 
ticular reason. 

Have you an}', and what reason to be- 
lieve, that the letter of service was expe- 
dited by the money given to Mrs. Clarke ? 
— ]My own private opinion was, that it 
was not : for, I think, she had very little 
influence with the Commander in Chief. 

Have you any reason to believe, that 
the Commander in Chief was privy to the 
money given to Mrs. Clarke ? — None in 
the world ; I never could have the idea. 

Having stated, that you considered the 
influence of Mrs. Clarke to be very small, 
upon what grounds do you found that 
opinion ? — The length of time we had in 
obtaining the letter of service. 

Had you any conversation j'ourself 
with Mr. Cockayne, respecting this trans- 
action ? — No, it was merely we were to 
be introduced to this person who had 
great power, and there to state what we 
wanted to them. 

You have continu.illy said; you were 
informed that a person had an influence 
with a great personage ; by whom were 
you so informed ? — Mr. Corri, the music- 
master. 

What communication had you with 
Mr. Corri, the music-master, with refer- 
ence to the transaction ? He was a 

client of Mr. Cockayne, and he proposed 



a2 



or mentioned something- of this natnre to 
Mr. Cockayne, sayinj^, that if any of his 
friends were military, and wished any 
assistance in the War-office, or tlie office 
of tile Commander in Chief, he coi'.ld 
assist them, throus^h his introduction. 

What did Mr. Corri mention to you : 
what personal communication was there 
between you and Mr. Corri .'--Nothing- 
more than I say -, I saw Mr. Corri once 
or twice, and he would not tell me the 
iiame of the person ; but he still persist- 
ed, in repeating- what I have mentioned, 
that he had interest with this person. 

Did the proposal come from you to 
Mr. Corri, or from Mr. Corri to you, and 
in what terms and what manner ? — Mr. 
Corri proposed it to Mr. Cockayne, Mr. 
Cockayne mentioned it to me, and then 
an interview took place between Mr. 
Corri and me. 

Then I now understand, you had a 
personal communication with Mr. Coc- 
kayne yourself ? — Mr. Cockayne was the 
person who introduced Mr. Con-i to me. 

How did he introduce him, and open 
the subject ? — Exactly as I have men- 
tioned. This man was a client of Mr. 
Cockayne ; he informed Mr. Cockayne ; 
that if any of his friends were military, 
and wished for assistance in the War- 
office, or • the Commander in Chief's 
office, he had a person of his acquaint- 
ance that could be of very great use to 
them. 

You are now only stating the conver- 
sation between Mr. Cockayne and Mr. 
Corri ; did Mr. Cockayne relate to j'ou, 
that he had such a conversation with 
Mr. Corri, and what he would propose to 
you in consequence of that conversation ? 
— He did relate it to me, and I beg-g-ed to 
be introduced, or to have an interview 
with Mr. Corri. 

Did Mr. Cocka3me come to search out 
you, or did you go to search out Mj*. 
Cockayne ? — I really cannot say ; he was 
a, client of Mr. Cockayne, Mr. Cockayne 
is an attorney. 

Mr. Corri was a client of Mr. Coc- 
kayne ? — Yes. 

You have been relating a conversation 
between yourself and Mr. Cockayne ; 
did Mr. Cockaj-ne come to you to inform 
you of this channel, or did you g*o to 






his good services take place previous to 
the regtdar application to the Commander 
in Chief ? — No, I believe it was not ; we 
did not mention anv thing to him about 
the 2001. then. 

When was any thing mentioned about 
the 2001. to Mr. Corri ?— After the letter 
of service was granted. 

For what purpose was the 2001. offered 
to him ! — He had previously mentioned, 
that he cxpeded somcting for his trou- 
ble, in the event of the letter of service 
being obtained, but no sum was named. 

Was the application to Mr. Corri pre- 
vious to the application to the Commander 
in Chief ? — No, certainly not. 

Was your first interview with Mr. 
Corri previous to your regular applica- 
tion to the Commander in Chief .'—As- 
suredly. 

And, in that interview, it was under- 
derstoodthat Mr. Corri would give you 
his good offices ! — With his friend which 
was Mrs. Clarke. 

Was the offer of 500 guineas to Mrs. 
Clarke made with your privity ? — Cer- 
tainly it was ; I empowered colonel 
French to write thus much to the person 
who we understood was to be our friend 
in the business. 

Was that previous to the regular ap- 
plication ? — Certainly. 

Did you ever mention to colonel 
French your idea, that Mrs. Clarke had 
not much interest with tlie Commander 
in Chief ? — Repeatedly. 

What was colonel French's observa- 
tion ? — " We had better sec what she can 
do." 

Did colonel French mention to you 
the necessity of keeping this transaction 
secret ? — Most assuredly he did ; cer- 
tainly. 

From whom did you suppose it was to 
be kept secret ? — It was required, from 
the person who was unknown to us, tliat 
it should ue kept secret. 

Do you mean the person who was then 
unknown to you, as being Mrs. Clarke ? 
— As it proved afterwards. 

Do you mean to say, that Mrs. Clarke 
required that this transaction should be 
kept secret ? — Not a doubt about it ; that 
she requested it upon .all occasions ; and 
when I have seen Mrs. Clarke, she re- 



search for Mr. Cockayne ?— Mr. Coc- quested I would not mention her name, 

kayne was my attorney; and going there or the Commander in Chief's name, 

upon other business, he then related this From whom did Mrs. Clarke wish it 

to me. to be kept secret !— From all the world. 

Did that interview with Mr. Corri, in from every body, 

which 2001. was offered to Mr. Corri for Did Mrs. Clarke ever mention a wish 



^^v» 



83 



that il shoTikl lie kept secret from the^ 
Duke of York lier havinpf rt'ceivctl any 

money ? Most assuredly, slu; begged 

that it might never escape my lips to 
any body. ,* 

Then from conversation you have had 
witlj Mrs. Clarke from time to time, had 
you reason to suppose tliat she kept it 
secret from the Duke of York ? — I can- 
not [iretend to say that ; I know nothing- 
about what she did with the Duke of 
York. . 

Do you mean, in the last answer but 
one, that she wished you should keep it 
secret from the Duke of York ? — And 
every body else as well. 

I ask particulr.rly as to the Duke of 
York ? — Yes, certainl)'^ she did. 

Was any money paid to Mrs. Clarke 
before the letter of service was obtained ? 
—No, nothing. 

I understand you to have stated, that 
you have seen Mrs. Clarke to the num- 
ber of fifty times ; in any of those times 
did she ever inform you that the Duke of 
York was privy to the transaction of her 
taking any money ? — Never. 

Did she ever at any of those times in- 
form you that the Duke of York knew of 
the application to her ? — No, she did 
not. 

Was the money which was paid to Mrs. 
Clarke, paid solely on account of colonel 
French, or were you interested in that 
money yourself ? — I had part of the levy, 
and the money that was paid by us was 
from the joint stock. 

When you had conceived, from the 
delay of the letter of service, that Mrs. 
Clarke had very little interest with the 
Duke of York, with what motive did 
you consent that your money should be 
thrown away afterwards to the amount 
of 8501. to a person who had in your 
opinion no interest ? — I have only to say, 
that she persuaded us to the contrary, 
and said that she had a great deal of in- 
fluence over the Commander in Chief 

I understood you to say, that you had 
concluded, from the delay of the letter 
of service, she had very little interest 
with the Duke of York ?— That was my 
opinion. 

And I understood you to say, that, sub- 
sequent to the letter, you had paid her 
8501. consequently your payment of 8501. 
was subsequent to your conviction that 
she had little interest with the Duke of 
York ; state therefore why, having that 
conviction at that time, as you have stat- 
ed, vou consented that your monev, to 

12 



the amount of 8501. should be thrown 
away ? — It was my opinion, but it was 
not colonel Frencli's. 

Do you recollect the date of your ap- 
plication for the letter of service ? — No. 
I do not. 

State by what sums the 8501. which 
you paid to Mrs. Clarke, was made up ? 
-—1001. 1001. 2001. 1001. 1501. 1001. 
and 1001. 

Will you state the dates J— I have no 
dates. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

Mr. DOMINGO CORRI was called in, 
and examined bi) the Committee, as 
follows : 

Do you know colonel French and cap- 
tain Huxley Sandon ?— Only captain San- 
don ; I never saw colonel French. 

Do you recollect introducing captain 
Sandon to Mrs. Clarke ? — I never intro- 
duced him ; he introduced himself. 

Did you give him the direction that 
enabled him to introduce himself ? — 
Quite the contrary ; he asked me very 
often, but I never would tell him : he 
asked me several times, and I always 
told him I could not say who the lady 
was ; but he found it out himself, and 
told me he knew the name of the per- 
son, and that colonel French had gxMie 
to her. 

Do you of your own knowledge know 
what the consequence of their going to 
her was ? — Yes. 

Say what it was. — Captain Sandon was 
introduced to me by Mr. Cockayne ; and 
he told me that he knew that I was ac- 
quainted with the lady who had a great 
influence in the War-office ; and he told 
me that if I would speak to this lady, 
she would have 20001. for what, I recol- 
lect, for the levy of the troops. I told 
him I would speak to Mrs. Clarke, and 
so I did ; and gave him the answer, that 
she would try what she could ; but she 
said at the same time, it was a very dif- 
ficult matter, that she was obliged to 
break tlu-ough it gradually, and could 
recommend nobody but people of cha- 
racter, and qualified for the place, and 
to go through the War -office, as every 
body else was ; and this I told captain 
Sandon. 

Do you of your own knowledge know 
any thing more of the bargain between 
Mrs. Clarke and colonel French and 
captain Huxley Sandon ? — Yes ; captam 
Sandon came to me and said that the 
Duke had screwed them down very hardj 



84 



and that he could only give 7001. 
" Well," I said, " it is all tlic same to 
me what you will give, and 1 will tell hei- 
what J ou'say ;" and 1 told Mrs. Clarke 
of this new proposal. In this interme- 
dium, captain Sandon introduced him- 
self, as 1 said before, to -Mrs. Clarke, 
and I never heard any more of tlie busi- 
ness, they settled it by themselves ; ex- 
cept in the month of June, 1804, Mr. 
Cockayne sent to me at the cofiee-house, 
the Cannon Coffee-house, and he brought 
a bill, I believe, which I never looked 
at, for 2001 payable to my order, he 
said. Upon Mr Grant. I did not look 
at the bill ; I put my name, and gave it 
to Mr. Cockayne, and said, yovi had 
better keep it yourself, I am under an 
obligation to you, you had better keep 
it. And that was the end of^^iy busi- 
ness. 

Do vou of your own knowledge know 
nothing further of the bargain that was 
made ?— -Nothing more ; several people 
came to me applying to me for places, 
and I told Mrs. Clarke ; but I never 
heard any more. She was very anxious 
to get the Gazette every night, expecting 
places ; but 1 know nothing more of tlie 
parties, for I introduced them to her, 
and I had nothing more to do with it, and 
no more business of any sort passed be- 
tween Mrs. Clarke and me, except the 
music. 

Have you, since this business came 
before the House, destroyed any papers ? 
—I destroyed a paper in the month of 
July, the ^ame year, soon after captain 
Sandon's business. One day I went to 
Mrs. Clarke's house, and she told me 
she was coming to me ; that there was a 
terrible noise ; that the Duke was very 
angiy, and desired 1 would burn all 
papers and letters that I had ; conse- 
qucntly 1 burned all the letters at that 
time. 

Have you burned any papers since this 
business came before the House ? — I had 
none : I jiave four letters in my pocket 
now, which I received from Mrs. Clarke 
since the 1st of Januray ; but 1 was ter- 
rified at that time, and did not like the 
business, and I destroyed the papers 
which I had at the time of this transac- 
tion immediately after it had taken 
place. 

\re the four letters, which you have 
now in your pocket, to tlie same pur- 
port with the papers you burned before ? 
— No, invitations to go and see her, to 
go and spend tlie sixth day of the yeivr 



with her ; the first was an invitation to 
see her. The first day i went there was 
the sixth, and she desired me to dine and 
sup and to remain the whole evening i 
which I did ; and on the 15th I went and 1 
supped there again. 

Has Mrs. Clarke ever stated to you I 
any tiding respecting the Duke of York's 
opinion respecting these transactions ?— 
She never talked any thing to me ; she 
always told me the same tiling she had 
before, that it was always a very deli- 
cate thing to open such matters 'to the 
Duke. 

When Mrs. Clarke stated to you that 
the Duke was very angry at what had 
passed, upon which statement you burn- 
ed the papers ; did she explain herself 
any thing furtlier, and state at what the 
Duke was angry .'—Yes ; she told me .at 
that time that t)ie Duke was watched 
very close by colonel Gordon, and that 
Mr. Greenwood also watched her mo- 
tions ; therefore she was so situated, she 
could get nothing almost. 

AVhat was the paper which j^ou de- 
stroyed ? — O, just common things ; I 
could not remember five years ago ; a 
desire to cajjtain Sandon to go such a 
djiy to the War-office, or sometliing of 
that kind. I was there every day of the 
year, consequently we had plenty of 
time for conversation, and she need not 
send letters to me. 

Wliat do }ou mean by saying yoii 
destroyed papers ?— -I mean that Mrs. 
Clarke said to me, that I should destroy 
every paper, (because the Duke had 
heard of something of the kind, and he 
was very angry indeed) '* for God's 
sake ;" and my wife was present at this 
conversation, and she went home and 
burned the letters ; further, she told me 
that perhaps we should be called where 
I have the honour to be now. 

Did Mrs. Clarke mean to state, that 
the Duke of York suspected that there 
had been some correspondence betMeen 
her and captain Huxley Sandon, and 
that the fear of the Duke's discovering 
that induced her to desire you to destroy 
all letters that had passed upon that sub- 
ject ? — She was just going to Kensington 
Gardens at the time, the carriage was at 
the door, and she s.aid in a great hurry, 
" For God's sake go home and burn the 
letters i" .and there was very little more 
passed in the hurry. 

You have stated, that you put your 
name upon a bill for 2001. and returned 
it to Mr. Cockayne, saying that you had 



85 



obligations to him ; do you mean to say, 
that you got no i*emuneration or reward 
for your services in the transaction be- 
tween Mr. Huxley Sandon and Mrs. 
Clarke ? — None wh:^»ver, not one shil- 
ling. 

What induced you to put your name 

on that bill ? Because Mr. Cockayne 

told me it was payable to my order ; I 
ditl not read the bill. 

Did you owe Mr. Cockayne any mo- 
ney ? — Yes ; I have Mr Cockayne's a«- 
count ^ere from the year 1802 to 1806, 
debtor and creditor, and not one penny 
creditor but the 2001. which took place 
in the year 1804. 

What obligation did you mean in con- 
sequence of which vou gave Mr. Cock- 
ayne this bill of 2001. ?— I thought, in the 
first place, that he was entitled to the 
half, if it had been for us, for I never 
asked any thing ; and I thought he 
should have the half ; and at the time I 
said, " You may as well keep the whole, 
you are very welcome ;" and he said, it 
is a very good act of generosity, Mr. 
Corri. 

Do you know whether Mr. Cockayne 
got the money for that bill ! — I know 
nothing about it ; he wrote me a letter, 
thanking me for this act of generosity. 

In this letter of Mrs. Clarke's, which 
you state yourself to have desti-oyed, did 
she express any apprehensions of the 
Duke of York's knowing any thing about 
the transactions in which yourself and 
she were concerned ? — Yes, it was in 
consequence of that that the Duke had 
heard something which had transpired, 
and that he was very angry, and that we 
should be called to this House. 

You have stated, that you have seen 
Mrs. Clarke twice since the first of Janu- 
ary, on the 6th and 15th ; was there any 
conversation at either of those meetings, 
when you supped each time, respecting 
the transaction to which this related ? — 
Yes, I was a little surprised, because 
soon after dinner she sent for the 
twelfth cake, and they sent, for a com- 
pliment, to some gentlemen, and two 
gentlemen came in the evening ; ,and as 
soon as they came, the conversation of 
this afi'air of Mr. Sandon was introduced, 
and I repeated every word there just as 
I have iMi'e, that captain Sandon told 
me she haa received the 5001. and Mr, 
Cockayne had received the 2001 and 
they were laughing at me, saying what a 
fool I had been ; and this was the topic 



of the conversation of the whole night 
almost. 

You have stated, that you were sur- 
prised at that conversation having been 
introduced by Mrs. Clarke that evening; 
did Mrs. Clarke assign any reason for 
introducing that conversation on the ar- 
rival of the two gentlemen you have 
mentioned ! — No. 

Did Mrs. Clarke allude to any other 
transaction of a similar nature, before 

these gentlemen ? No, the rest was 

spent in convi\ial convei-sation and mer- 
riment, and I left the gentlemen there 
at twelve o'clock, or a little after twelve, 
drinking there. 

Do you know who tlu» gentlemeh 
were ?— I could describe the person ; one 
I know, and knew the second time ; she 
did not tell me the first time, but the 
second time she did, and introduced me 
to him ; she asked me the first time, 
whether I could tell who he was. I told 
her he appeared to me to be a lawyer ; 
he laughed very much, this gentleman 
did, and I knew no more the first time ; 
the second time I could tell you who he 
was, if you please. 

Were" th<; same gentlemen present both 
upon the 6th and upon the 15th ? — The ^ 
15th, I am not altogether certain as to ' 
the little one ; the long nosed one, thti 
friend of Mrs. Clarke, he was there, and 
she introd\iced me to him ; but I believe 
the other one was there too, from my re- 
collection. 

A\'ho was the gentleman whom you do 
know ?— Must 1 tell, for she told me in 
secret ! 

[The witness was directed to answer 
the question. 

She told me it was Mr. Hellish, the 
Member, who I sujipose is in the House. 

Do you now know who the other gen- 
tleman was ? — I could describe the figure 
if I could see him ; my sight is noi very 
plain ; but I should not be surprised if 
he was here. 

Was there any other person present 
besides these two gentlemen ? — The first 
time there was a young lady, besides 
Mrs. Clarke. 

Was there no other gentleman present 
besides those two you have referred to ? 
— No ; only Mrs. Clarke, a young lady, 
and two gentlemen, and myself, t)ie first 
time. 

Tiie second time ? — The second time 
there was another new gentleman. 

Did Mrs, Clarke inform you who that 



86 



third gentleman was ?— Yes, she told me dressed ; dark hair, and rough in his 
he was a writer of some Paper ; she told manner of speaking' ; he appeared to me 



me the name, but I do not remember his 
name at all ; some writer of some Paper ; 
and she mentioned some Paper, but I 
forget what Paper it was ; I took no no- 
tice of these things ; she said that this 
man was to take care of her, she was 
obliged to have him with her to take care 
of her. 

Did that person seem acquainlcd with 
the other gentleman, or either of them ? 
—Yes ; when he came, he shook hands 
with Mr. Mellish. 

You have stated, that in the letter 
which you destroyed by Mrs. Clarke's 
desire, she expressed great apprehen- 
sions of the Duke's knowing she was con- 
cerned in any such transactions ; state, 
upon your recollection, whether or not 
Mrs. Clarke did not more than once in 



this letter express her apprehensions of way \^describing it."] 



not to be an Englishman, he had such a 
broken accent ; he was not elegant in 
his speaking. 

Did the man squint ? — I think a little, 
I am not positively sui'e ; if he squinted, 
it must be on the left side ; I sat on the 
right side. 

Was not his name Finnerty ? — No j I 
do not remember the name at all, I have 
a very bad memory for names. She told 
me the name and the paper. He told 
me that he had travelled a great deal, 
and that he hud been in Africa : and he 
said that he did not like any music but 
Scotch music, and he made me play a 
tune fifty times over, the same tune over 
again. 

Did the person wear his arm in a sling ? 
— No ; he wore them very careless in that 



the Duke of York's knowing that she had 
received money in tlie way in which it 
was stated that she had. — I could not re- 
member the contents of the letter ; but 
this conversation was repeatedly with 
me, to take care that the Duke should 
know nothing of the kind ; this was done 
every day ; and that she was obliged to 
have gi-eat caution, to break the matter 
cautiously to him. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

WILLIAM MELLISH, Esq. a Member 
of the House, attending in his place, 
was, at his own request, examined, 
as follows. 
Did you meet Mr. Corri at Mrs. 
Clarke's, on the 6th or the 15th of Janu- 
ary last ? — I never was at Mrs. Clarke's 
in my life, nor did I ever see her, to 
the best of my knowledge, before I saw 
her here. 

Mr. DOMINGO CORRI was called in 
again, and examined as follows : 

Did you ever see me (Mr. Mellish, the 
member for the county of Middlesex) at 
Mrs. Clarke's ? — No, it is not you ; but I 
only say what she said to me ; the person 
I saw was a gentleman of a darker com- 
plexion than you ; if she tell me a lie, I 
cannot help it. 

CFrom another member of the Commit- 
tee.J — Can you describe the third per- 
son you saw at Mrs. Clarke's ; the news- 
paper man ? — Yes, he is a very awkward 
figure, sallow complexion ; I would call 
him ratlier an ugly man ; very badly 



You have mentioned, that Mrs. Clarke 
told you the name of the paper to which 
he was writer ; was he not a writer for 

the Moming Chronicle ? It must be 

either the Morning Chronicle, the Times, 
or the Post, one of the three. 

Did }0U hear any person call liim by 
the name of Finnerty ? — No. 

Have you any reason to think that that 
is his name, from what you have heard ? 
— Nobody told me his name ; but we went 
into the back-room, me and Mrs. Clarke, 
and left all the gentlemen in the other 
room, and there she told me about Mr. 
Mellish and this other person. 

You did not hear the name of this 
other person mentioned at all ? — No. 

Do you know the person of Mr. Fin- 
nei'ty ? — No ; I could not recollect him 
at all ; but I thought the name to be 
something like a foreign name ; if I could 
see him I could tell. 

[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

WILLIAM DOWLER, Esq. was called 
in, and examined by the Committee, 
as follows : 

Are you not just returned from tlie 
Continent with dispatches ? — On Thurs- 
day last I arrived from Lisbon with dis- 
patches. 

Have you known Mrs. Clarke long ? — 
Several years. 

How many years have you known her I 
— I believe eight or nine at least ; I am 
not confident. 

Do you recollect ever seeing colonel 
French and captain Huxley Sandon in 



87 



Gloucester-place, while Mvs. Clarke was that then he should be able to go on with 

under the protection of the Duke of the service, otherwise, lie said, that he 

York I I have. should be obliged to abandon it. I do 

Did you ever hear either of them speak not recollect any thing particular that 

to Mrs. Clarke on iiie subject of the occurred after that time ; but I under- 

levy ? I have. ' stand that obstacle was removed with 

Did you ever speak to colonel French respect to the boys, that colonel French's 
or captain Sandon yourself, by desire of wish was obtained. 1 cannot speak to 
Mrs. Clarke, on the subject of the levy ? that beyond my recollection at this dis- 
I cUd. tant time. 

Do you recollect any conversation that Do you recollect any other application 



you bad with colonel French on that sub 
ject ?— I do. 

State as nearly as you can, what you 
recollect to have passed at that time. — 
I saw colonel French several times 



of colonel French's, to have an obstacle 
of any other description removed ? — I do 
not. 

Do you recollect that he requested at 
any time, that the recruits might be 



Relate, as nearly as you can, what passed near the place wliere they wei-e 

passed between colonel French and recruited than the rendezvous at that 

yourself upon that subject.— I saw col. time was ? — I recollect that col. French 

French at Mrs. Clarke's house, and was stated, that as he expected to get the 

informed that he was there on the subject greater part of his recruits in Ireland, 

of the letter of service. I asked Mrs. it would be very difficult and expensive 

Clarke, from curiosity, the nature of it ; to pass tliem in the Isle of Wight ; but I 

slie told me ; and I recollect perfectly, cannot recollect the particulars of what 

that I took the liberty of saying that I passed at that time. 



disapproved, or thought it was exceed 
ingly wrong, such a business, and endea- 
voured to dissuade Mrs. Clarke from it. 
That was one of the conversations I re- 
collect to have had with Mrs. Clarke up 



You have stated, that you remonstrated 
with Mrs. Clarke on this transaction ; 
what answer did she make to you when 
you so remonstrated ; what excuse did 
she offer ? — This and other proceedings 



on the subject; it was after col. French I frequently mentioned, and endeavoured 

left the house that morning. to dissuade Mrs. Clarke from having any 

Do you x-ecollect when you next saw thing to do with them ; she stated, that 

colonel French, and had any conversa- the Duke of York was so distressed for 

tion with him respecting the levy ? — I money that she could not bear to ask 

cannot recollect when I saw col. French ; him, and that it was the only way in 

it is along time back-; but that I did see which her establishment could be sup- 

him several times after that I perfectly ported. I beg leave to state, that in 

recollect. consequence of this, IMrs. Clarke was of- 

State the substance of the conversa- fended with my freedom, and I ceased to 

tions, as nearly as you can, that passed see or hear from her, for I cannot tell 

between you and colonel French on the how long, till 1 think nearly my depar- 

subject of the levy. — Mrs. Clarke told ture for South America, in 1806. 

me she was to have lOOOl. and a guinea What was the nature of the remon- 

a man, as far as my recollection serves strance you made with Mrs. Clarke ? — 

me, to be paid on the completion of 500 I felt that it mig:lit implicate her cha- 

men, when they were passed. I was racter or the Duke of York's at a future 



likewise present when colonel French or 
captain Sandon, I am not positive which, 
paid Mrs. Clarke five hundred guineas 
of the thousand that was first of all pro- 
mised. Afterwards, I recollect, seeing 



time, that was what I told her ; that there 
was a great risk attending it, and I tbo't 
it was very dangerous to her reputation 
and to his. 

In what situation are you ? — I have 



colonel French there, and he stated, that lately been in charge of the accoimt 

there could not possibly be any but the department of the commissariat at Lis- 

usual boimty given, and that he came, bon. 

(Mrs. Clarke was not visible at the mo- How long have you been in the com- 
ment he came) to request that an in- missariat ? — Since 1305.. 
creased number of boys should be in- How did you obtain your situation in 
eluded in the number of the levy, which that department '. — 1 purchased it of Mrs. 
he should be able to procure at a less Clai-ke. 
sum than the bounty given for men ; and Did you apply directly to Mrs. Clarke 



88 



for the appointment ? — Certainly not ; 
she suggested it to me. 

Did you pay any money to Mrs. Clai-ke 
for the benefit you received from it ? — I 
first oi" all gave her 10001. and at other 
times other sums to a very considerable 
amount. 

Did you ever mak« any other direct 
and regular application to obtain that 
situation ? — To no one. 

You are positive as to that fact ?— Po- 
sitive. 

Never to any one but Mrs. Clarke ? 
To no individual whatever. 

In what department lies the presenta- 
tion to such appointment as that which 
you hold ? — In the Treasury. 

In what situation of life had you been 
before you were appointed to the com- 
missariat ; had you ever been in any 
Public Office ? — I had never been in any 
public office. When my father retired 
from business, which was within the know- 
ledge of Gentlemen who are members of 
this house, I retired into the country 
with him ; he was a wine-merchant and 
a merchant in general. 

How did you become acquainted with 
Mrs. Clarke ? — Through a Gentleman 
that is deceased, captain Sutton, whom I 
had known for some yeai's previous to 
my knowledge of .Mrs. Clarke 

When did captain Sutton introduce 
you to Mrs. Clarke, and in what manner 
and with what view did he so inti'oduce 
you ? — He took me to dine at her house ; 
the view was because there were a few 
musical persons to be there, a musical 
party ; captain Sutton asked me whether 
I would go out to dinner with him ; and 
that was the cause of my being intro- 
duced to Mrs. Clarke. 

When was this ? — I have said as nearly 
as possible about eight or nine years per- 
haps ago, but I am not confident as to 
the length of time. 

In what manner and at what time did 
you make the proposition to Mrs. Clarke, 
through her influence to procure the of- 
fice which you now hold ? — She made the 
proposition to me. 

In what manner did she make the offer ; 
and what passed between you upon that 
occasion, and when was it ? — She stated 
that she was extremely pressed'for mo- 
ney, and requested that I would assist 
her, as the Dake of York had not been 
punctual in his payments, and I applied 
to my Father in consequence ; he he- 
sitated, and I told her I could not 
furnish her with more money than I 



had then given her ; she then promised, 
not the situation I now hold, but another ; 
I applied to my Father, and he did not 
seem at the moment to give his consent 
to it. It was afterwai'ds a considerable 
time afterwards, for many months elaps- 
ed after the first suggestion '.vas made by 
Mrs. Clarke to me, he at last consented 
to it, if I could be confident it w<»uld be 
a matter that would not becoi., public, 
if I felt myself secure in it. Inconse- 
quence of that I was named to the ap- 
pointment I now hold. 

Did you never make any application 
for the office to any other person ; and'in 
what manner was your appointment to 
the office communicated to you ? — I never 
applied to any other person ; Mrs. Clarke 
told me that I should be appointed sooner 
by much than I was, and at last stated 
as the reason why it was put ofi', because 
a Mr. Manby, who had been in the 10th 
Regiment of Dragoons, was to be first 
gazetted ; my appointment was delayed 
in consequence of that ; I believe it was 
about two or three months at the utmost 
before I was gazetted, after Mr. Manby. 

In what year was that ? — 1805. 

Was your Father apprized of the object 
you had in view ? — Certainly. 

Might not your Father liave made ap- 
plication through other friends for tliis 
situation for you ? — I am certain not. 

Do you recollect the date of this com- 
munication with Mrs. Clarke respecting 
this appointment ? — 1 do not. 

State it as nearly as you can ? — I really 
cannot state it at all correctly, because it 
was the subject of conversation ; it was 
first of all pointed out to me, the situa- 
tion of a commissioner of the Lottery, 
wliich caused the delay. I understood 
my appointment was on the point of tak- 
ing place, but it was set aside because the 
vacancy that happened was given to Mr. 
Adams, the Secretary to Mr. Pitt ; and 
then it was suggested to me, that the 
commissariat was an eligible and gentle- 
manly employment, and not an inactive 
one, as I believe the circumstances of my 
service will sufficiently shew. 

Am I to understand from you, that this 
arrangement, about getting you the situa- 
tion in the commissariat, arose about the 
time that Mr. Adams, the Secretary to 
Mr. Pitt, was appointed a commissioner 
of the Lottery ? — I believe it was after- 
wards i but they were both the subjects 
of conversation previous to that. 

Was it soon afterwards ? — I am sorry J 
cannot state that correctly. 



89 



Will you state the year ?— I do not 
know the dates, because they were both 
the subject of conversation before they 
took place. 

Can you state Ihe^Iate of your com- 
mission appointing you in the commis- 
sariat ? — 1 was first in the store depart- 
ment of the commissariat, previous to 
my going', and after I went to South 
America ; and I was tranferred to the 
Accoimt Department on my going out 
with Sir Arthur Wellesley. 

Do you know the precise date of your 
first commission from the Treasury ap- 
pointing you an assistant commissary 
of stores and provisions ! — I think it was 
in June or July 1805 

Do you know the names of the Lords 
of tlie Treasury by whom that commission 
was signed ? — My commission is at Lis- 
bon with my luggage ; I cannot answer 
that ; as I came with dispatches, it was 
necessary I shovdd not encumber myself 
with luggage, and it is there. 

Cannot you state, upon your own re- 
collection, the name of any one of the 
Lords of the Treasury who signed that 
commission ? — I cannot. 

You also held a commission from the 
Secretary at War ? — J believe that com- 
mission, was made out after my depart- 
ture, and that it has never been in my 
possession ; but I have no paper to help 
my recollection. 

After your departure for what place ? 
— Sotith America. 

You have stated, that you received your 
first commission in June or July 1805 ? 
— I believe so. 

Where were you employed after that 
time ? — In the Eastern district, Colches- 
ter and Sudbury, in Suifolk. • 

You have stated that Mr. Manby's 
commission took place before yours ? — 
It did. 

And that Mr. Manby's having the pre- 
cedence over yours, was the cause of the 
delay in your appointment ? — Yes. 

Do you know the date of Mr. Manby's? 
— I do not ; I believe it was the com- 
mencement of the year 1805, but I can- 
not be positive to the commission of Mr. 
Manby, as 1 never saw it. 

You stated, that you were appointed, 
in June or July 1805, assistant commis- 
sary of stores and provision ; by whom 
was the notification of that appointment 
commimicated to you ? — I was apprized 
of it a few days before it took place, by 
Mrs. Clarke ; in consequence of which I 



recollect paying the remainder of tlie 
10001. 

In consequence of this notification 
being received from Mrs. Clarke, what 
steps did you take in order to procure the 
instrument which put you in possession 
of your appointment? — I was apprized 
that it was the usual Office in the 
Treasury, and Mr. Vernon was tlie gen- 
tleman, I believe, that signified it to me; 
1 was in expectation of it every Gazette. 

Do you know who Mr. Vernon is ? — I 
believe Mr. Vernon's is the Office in the 
Treasury where commissions are left. 

Did you understand from Mrs Clarke, 
that she made her application direct to 
any person in the Treasury ; or through 
what chaimel did you understand from 
her that that application was made ? — To 
the Dnkc of York. 

Is the committee to understand, that 
you gave your money to Mrs Clarke 
under the belief that you had been re- 
commended to the Trersury for this si- 
tuation by his Ro)'al Highness the Duke 
of York, through the influence of Mrs 
Clarke ? — Certainly. 

From the time tliat yoit first under- 
stood that this application liad been made 
to tlie Treasury, up to the time that you 
received this commission, did you take 
any steps to hasten or to expedite the ob- 
ject of your appointment with Mrs 
Clarke, through any other channel what- 
ever ? — I did not. 

Had you had any communication with 
any person connected with the First Lord 
of the Treasury, or any other gentleman 
then in tlie Treasury, on the subject of 
your expectations of your commission, 
up to the time that you came to Mr. 
Vernon's to take out that commission ? — 
Never, but mentioning to Mr. Vernon 
my expectation. 

Then you saw Mr. Vernon before you 
were appointed .-—Certainly I know Mr. 
Vernon. 

You saw no other person at the Trea- 
sury ?--None. 

Between the time in which you state 
you paid the premium for obtaining this 
commission, add the time that you ac- 
tually received it, did you receive any in- 
timation from any person connected with 
the Treasurjjthat your expectations were 
favourably entertained ?- — Mr. Vernon 
mentioned to me one morning when I 
called there, a gentleman was speaking to 
him ; I was desired to call in five minntes; 
he said, " I believe you are going to be 



90 



appointed an as^bislant commissary," I 
do not know tlie exact term, there was a 
paper going' up, and he said, " 1 have no 
doubt the appointment will take place, it 
has been signified from the Board," or 
some such expression. 

Did you receive from Mrs. Clarke, the. 
person whose recommedation you think 
procured you this situation, any informa- 
tion respecting- the progress making to- 
wards tlic completion of the appointment ? 
--I have stated what passed between Mrs. 
Clarke and myself respecting Mr. Man- 
by's appointment, it was the subject of 
conversation afterwards ; but it was not 
of that consequence to me as to make it 
the subject of particular inquiry. 

What, in point of fact, was the dis- 
tance of time between the money being 
paid by you and the appointment to tlie 
commissariat ?- — I cannot at all tell that. 

Not wlictbcr it was in the same year ? 
— Certainly in the same year. 

Within six months ?"--Ccrtan 1 y. 

I think you stated, that you hud paid 
some sums of money to Mrs. Clarke, in 
expectation of getting some appointment 
before you paid to her the specific sum 
that was to lead to this appointment ?- — 
Not in expectation of getting any ap- 
pointment. 

For what other reason ? — It was con- 
sidered merely as a temporary relief to 
her ; she was always stating, "the Duke 
will have more money shortly, and I will 
pay you ;" and it was obtained from my 
father at my request, but with no view of 
any appointment . 

Then is the committee to understand, 
that the sums of money which you paid to 
Mrs. Clarke, before you paid this sum for 
this appointment, were loans made to her 
without any expectation of any public 
employment being conferred upon you?--- 
Certainly. 

When Mr. Vernon, from whom you re- 
ceived the notification of your appoint- 
ment, made that notification, in wh.it 
terms was it made ; was it verbally or in 
writing ?----VerbaUy. 

What were tlie terms of it ? — " I be- 
lieve, Mr. Dowler, you are going to be 
appointed an assistant commissary," as 
far as I can recollect the expression. 

In what terms did Mr. Vernon inti- 
mate to you, tliat you were actually ap- 
pointed ?— The intimation was, that the 
appointment was in a train, not that I 
was actually appointed. 

From wliose hands, or from whom did 
you actually receive the warr.ant of your 
appointment ?— -I believe from Mr. Ver- 




non ; there are fees paid upon them, 
I am not certain whether myself or a 
friend received the commission, and paid 
the fees or not. 

You do not recollect whether you re- 
ceived it from Mr Vernon's hand or not ? 
— I do not. 

Do you recollect whetlier you received 
it in a letter from Mr. Vernon ? — I be- 
lieve not, I am not confident, I cannot 
charge my memory with a circumstance 
which I did not consider of any conse- 
quence, at the distance of from 1805 to 
the present time ; I am here very reluc- 
tantly ; I am just arrived in England, and 
had but yesterday a summons to attend 
this House, very unexpectedly. 

From the time you have received the 
appointment in the commissariat, to the 
present time, have you never ascribed 
your appointment to any other intei-est 
"but that of Mrs. Clarke ?— I stated, that 
Mrs. Clarke did not give me the appoint- 
ment I hold, and that was the only an- 
swer I ever gave ; I bought it. 

Was not your Fatlier a common- 
councilman of the city of London ?— 
He was, for many years. 

Did he not represent the same Ward 
of the city of London of which Sir Brook 
Watson was tiie Alilerman ? — He did. 

Do you recollect a conversation that 
passed between yourself and me (Mr. 
Alderman Combe) at the top of the Hay-, 
market, after you had received the ap- 
pointment ? — 1 recollect seeing Mr. 
Combe, but what occured I cannot possi- 
bly tell. 

Do you recollect this having passed, 
that I congratulated you upon what I had 
heard, as to your having received an ap- 
pointment in the commissariat, and that 
I put the question, whether you had re- 
ceived it from the favour of Mrs. Clarke 
or the patronage and favour of Sir Brook 
Watson ? — I have no recollection of the 
conversation that passed from Mr. Combe 
but his congratulation to me ; he was on 
horseback ; I think the horse did not 
stand very still, and I ran in the middle 
of the street, to ask Mr. Combe how he did. 

Are you quite certain, that to that 
question you did not answer, that it was 
entirely by the favour of Sir Brook Wat- 
son ? — Upon my honour I cannot recollect 
wliHt passed, as Hiave before stated. 

Will you undertake to say jrositivelj', 
that you did not at that time say it was 
by the favour of Sir Brook Watson ? — I 
cannot say positivel)', but I state what I 
stated before, tliat Mrs. Clarke did not 
give me the appointment ; and many 



91 



mistakes have occurred upon that, by 
persons sujiposiiig- that 1 received it 
without having- purchased it, which is 
tl>c fact. »■ 

When you made tlie remonstrance you 
have stated, to Mrs. Chirke, did she en- 
deavour to aUay your apprehensions with 
respect to herself, by any Bug'i^eslion that 
the Duke of York was privy to her tak- 
ing" money on such an occasion ? — I can- 
not say what conversation arose, except 
that she was offended vvitli my freedom. 

Did you not consider Mrs. Clarke as 
placing- a very particular confidence in 
you, for a lonp^ course of years ! — On 
these occasions 1 thoii):>lit so ; but as my 
opinion did not accord with hers, com- 
munication very soon ceased on such 
subjects. 

Is the committee to understand, that 
Mrs. Clarke did not give you any reason 
to think tliat the Duke of York knew of 
licr taking" that money ? — Six; gave me 
reason always to think that tlie Duke of 
York was perfectly acquainted witii it. 

Do you not recollect that slio transac- 
tion respecting colonel French and n\ajor 
Sandon was in tlic year 1804 ? — I do not 
recollect the time of the transaction. 

Do you recollect whether it was before 
or after your giving- Mrs. Clarke the 
lOOOl. for the purchase, as you term it, of 
the place for you in the commissariat ? — 
My expostulation with Mrs. Clarke on 
the subject of col. French, was pre- 
vious to my appointment in the commis- 
sariat, I believe so, as far as my recollec- 
tion goes ; but I trust at tliis distance of 
time I shall be excused, if 1 am imperfect 
as to the dates. 

Tlie transaction with colonel French 
was in the year 1804 ? — I have a belief 
that it was so ; but, not being positive, 
I would not venture to say that of which 
I am not sure. 

If, from respect to Mrs. Clarke, you 
tTiought it riglit to remonstrate and ex- 
postulate against the transaction with 
colonel French in 1804, why did you 
yourself in 1805 bribe her with lOOOh to 
get an office for you ? — Ik-cause shp was 
peculiarly distressed tor money at the 
moment, and because the appointment 
would remain a secret in my breast, and 
nothing but such an inquiry as this 
possibly have drawn it from me. The 
Duke of York's cliaracter and Mrs. 
Clarke's would ne\'er have suffered from 
that which unfortunately I am now 
obliged to communicate to this House. 

Then the committee Is to uncleratand 

]3 



that your only reason for remonstrating 
and expostulating with Mrs. Clarke, was 
not against the impropriety of the act, 
but on account of the risk of a dis- 
covery .' — For both reaons, and her an- 
swer, a^ for as I recollect, was this : I 
stated to Mrs. Clarke the anxiety and 
trouble that it seemed to have occasioned 
to her in this business of colonel French's : 
and that I advised her by all means, to 
have a i-egular payment from the Duke 
of York, instead of meddling with such 
matters ; and she told me, that he really 
had not the money. 

Although then you might think the 
secj'et safer with } ou, did you not feel 
the impropriety of the act equally ap- 
plied to your own transaction ? — I was 
principally induced to it from the diffi- 
culty and embarrassed situation she was 
in at the moment I purchased the situa- 
tion. 

You have stated, that Mrs. Clarke wan 
so much offended with your expostulation 
and remonstrances, that you saw very 
little of her since ?— Not so frequently as 
before, by much. 

[The following question and answer, 
given by the witness in the former part 
of his examination, were read.] 

Q. " You have stated, that you 
" remonstrated witli Mrs. Clarke ou 
" this transaction ; what answer did 
" she make to you when you so re- 
" monstrated ; what excuse did she 
" offer ?" — 1. " Tliis and other pro- 
•' cccdings I frequently mentioned, 
'*and endeavoured to dissuade Mrs. 
" Clarke from having any thing- to 
" do with them. She stated, that 
" the Duke of York was so distressed 
" for money that she could not bear 
•' to ask him ; and that it was the 
" oidy way in which her establish- 
" mcnt could be supported. I beg 
" leave to state, that in consequence 
"of this, Mrs. Clarke was offended 
" with my freedom, and I ceased to 
".see or hear from her, for I cani.ot 
"tell how long, till I think nearly 
" mv departure for South America 
"in"l806." 
(Mr. Dowler.) I beg leave to amend 
that ; that I saw her less frequently dur- 
ing- the interval ; not so frequently as I 
had seen before : it produced a great 
deal of tttiger in Mrs. Clarke, my taking 
the liberty of giving my advice, as I have 
stated. 
Wexfcvou personally acquainted witli 



92 



Sir Brook Watson ? — Not sufficieirtly so 
to bow to him even passing in the street. 

Do you know whether your father 
was acquainted with Sir Urook Watson ? 
— He was, but not intimately, not on 
terms of particular intimacy ; he dined 
with him once a year with the common- 
councilmen of the Ward, that was the 
utmost intimacy I know of subsisting be- 
tween them. 

Did you nev<fr hear your father say 
that Sir Brook Watson had interceded, 
or would intercede, to procure you a si- 
tuation under Government ? — Never. 

You have stated that besides the 
10001. you paid Mrs. Clarke, you paid 
her large sums at different times ; can 
you state tlie whole amount of the sums 
you have paid to Mrs. Clarke at those 
different times ? — I cannot recollect the 
amount of them, but I recollect particu- 
larly tliat I paid 1701. or guineas for a 
vis-a-vis to captain Warner, who was 
going abroad, and she told me she should 
have the money in from the Duke of 
York in a few days to pay me.' 

Did tjiey amount altogether to 10001. ? 
—I am unable to state, I kept no ac- 
count. 

What is the amount of the pay with 
the emolumentsof the office which you 

hold ? In England, on home staff, 

the pay of an assistant commissai-y is 
fifteen shillings a day, with various de- 
ductions. 

Is that the whole emolument ? — There 
is an allowance for lodging when you arc 
not in barracks or billetted, but that 
ceases if you are billetted. 

What were the emoluments of the of- 
fice which you held before your last pro- 
motion, when you first obtained the si- 
tu.'ition under Government ? — The first 
office was that of assistant commissary of 
stores, the emoluments of which I have 
stated. 

What do the emoluments of the pre- 
sent situation which you hold amount 
to ? — There is an extra five shillings, 
called Treasury Pay, given to the officers 
of the commissariat on foreign service, 
subject to the deductions of income tax, 
and others tliat are usual. 

Did you obtain that promotion or 
change of your situation from any interest 
on the part of any body, or was it granted 
without application to any body ? — It 
was granted on my application to Mr. 
Harrison, in consequence, I would take 
the liberty of adding, of mv stating to 
Mr. Harrison that I had surfered in my 
health from being in SoutJi America ; I 



did not wish to avoid foreign service, btiti 
was imable to go through the ftitigue of ' 
the stoj-e department ; but that if their 
Lordships thought proper, I conceived 
myself able, and was willing, to under- 
take that of the account department. 
Mr. Harrison replied, I will sec about it. 
He went out of his office, and returned in 
a few moments, and said he could see 
no objection, if it was not objectionable 
to the person going at tlie head of the 
department. The pay of the two de- 
partments is the same. 

Do not you conceive it probable, that 
from the respectable situation your fa- 
ther held in the corporation of the city 
of London, you might be likely to have 
several friends who interceded with Go- 
vernment for the office to which you were 
first appointed ? — I believe not. 

You have stated your belief, that the 
Duke of York was acquainted with the 
circumstance of Mrs. Clarke taking tliis 
money ; can you state what circum- 
stances induce you to entertain that be- 
lief ? — The assurance of Mrs. Clarke. 

You know of no other circumstances 
but the declaration of Mrs. Clarke, to in- 
duce you to that opinion ; no circum- 
stances have occurred to corroborate that 
opinion ? — With respect to the money of 
course I cannot, but she said I should be 
gazetted very shortly, and I was so. 

SoJ^hatthat opinion which you have 
given to the house was founded solely on 
the declaration of Mrs. Clarke, without 
any other corroborating circumstance ?— 
Of course I had no communication with 
the Duke of York, and it was her decla- 
ration alone which led me to believe that 
he knew it, and my subsequent appoint- 
ment. 

Did you ever tell Mr. Vernon at the 
Ti'casury, at the time you received your 
appointment, that you owed it to the in- 
fluence of Mrs. Clarke, or at any time 
before, that you expected it from her in- 
terest ? — I do not recollect having any 
conversation with Mr. Vernon upon that 
subject. 

Were you not, previous to your ap- 
pointment, ever introduced to one of the 
Secretaries of the Treasury, or some 
other gentleman there ? — ^I never was in- 
troduced to either of the Secretaries of 
the Treasury, to my recollection ; I hava 
not the knowledge of the person of any- 
one of the gentlemen who were then 
Secretaries of the Treasury. 

Or one 6f the chief clerks ? — Not to 
my recollection. 

Before you received your appointment 



iVom the Treasury, were you not referred 
to the comptrollers of army accounts, 
to be ex:irnined as to your fitness to be a 
conimiasury ? — 1 was. 

Do you rtcoUect^iat interval there 
was lietween tliat reference and your ap- 
po'iiitniciit ? — 1 do not. 

From wiiom did you receive the letter 
of reference to the comptrollers? — I am 
not ceitaui, but I recollect the circum- 
stances of my g"oinj|f to the comptrollers 
office ;- 1 saw tiie secretary, Mr. Fau- 
quier I iliink his name was, }^ave me 
the asuil questions which were put, 
wliich 1 was to answer on a sheet of pa- 
per, what my Iiabits of life had been, my 
knowledg'e of business, and so on : those 
I answered ; and he said the comptrol- 
lers were not then sitting, but if 1 was 
required further, he would let me 
know. 

Do you know whether you received 
that letter from Mr. Vernon ? — 1 did 
not. 

State to the committee in what situ- 
ation on the Connnissariat's staff you 
were employed immediately before you 
were sent on service in Portugal? — Tlie 
accounts of the commissary general 
were not made up, or rather my ac- 
counts, which are the last, having been 
kept at Buenos Ayres after the departure 
of the army, having been sent tliere to 
pay for the supply of the army and the 
navy on their return liome ; and I was 
apprized by Mr. Bullock, that I was 
placed on half pay, which could be but 
a few weeks jprevious to my departvire 
for Portugal ; and the day previous to 
my departure, I was the whole day with 
Mr. Bullock, finally settling our ac- 
counts. 

You were assistant commissary, un- 
der Mr. Bullock, of stores and provi- 
sions, in the expedition to Buenos Ayres ? 
— I was. 

Not being wanted at your return, you 
were placed on half pay as soon asyovu* 
services could be dispensed with ? — I was 
surprised to find that I was placed on 
half pay, though I believe it was but for 
a very few weeks, because my accounts 
with Mr. Bullock were not settled, 
and I resided in London in consequence 
of it. 

Were you placed on half pay by any 
order of the Treasury ? — I was only ap- 
prized of it through Mr. Bullock, I do 
not know that it was the fact. 

Do you know on what recommenda- 
Uon you were sent on service to Portu- 



gal ? — I do not, Mr. Coffin told me that h^ 
liad not suggested my name. 

Do you know whether Mr. Coffin, the 
commissary general, was called upon on 
the occasion of the expeditions to Por- 
tugal and Spain, to furnish the Treasury 
with a list of all assistant commissaries 
who wereuponhalf pay, or not otherwise 
wanted on services in England, in order 
that they might be sent on service to those 
countries, witliout making fresh appoint- 
ments ? — Air Bullock called upon me at 
the coffee-house where I had resided, and 
told mc he had been informed that morn- 
ing, that I was put down for the expedi- 
tion under Sir Arthur Welleslcy ; 1 was in 
bad health, and had been constantly oc- 
cupied, and he knew that well ; and he 
said, I would advise your going to tiie 
conunissary general's in Great (ieorgo- 
street, to-morrow. 

When you went to tlie commissary 
general's, were you told to hold \ourseH' 
in xeadiness for foreign service ? — 1 think 
Mr. Coffin, or Mr. Morse, said to mc, 
■\\'ell, are you ready to be sent again ? 
I said I hope not just jet. I tiiink 
Mv. Coffin came out, and said, I did not 
suggest your name to the Treasury, I 
assure you ; or that Mr. Morse said, lir" 
believed that Mr. t 'oftin hail not done f.o. 

Had you made no application or in- 
terest to go upon this service ? — Certainlv 
not, except that which I made to Mr. 
Harrison, finding 1 was appointed to the 
Store Ucpartnient. 

Up to the .period that you applied tn 
Mr. Harrison, requesting that you might 
be changed from the department of stores 
to the department of the accounts, liad 
you any reason, except that you could 
perform it with more satisfaction ; ditl 
you consider it any promotion in the ser- 
vice ? — Certainly not, for 1 believe it is 
certain tluit thci-e is a greater chance 
of promotion in the store department, 
from its activity, and that activity be- 
ing in the eye of the Commander in 
Chief, than being in the account depart- 
ment. 

Before you were in the commissaries 
department, what was your profession of 
life ? — I was a longtime, after my fatlief 
quitted I.iondon and quitted l)usincs3, 
without any kind of occupation ; my fa- 
ther's liberality rendered it unnecessary 
for me for some time previous to my ap- 
pointment. 

Before you were appointed to the com- 
missariat, did you not follow the business 
of a stock-broker ? — Some years previous 



94 



to thai, I believe in the voar 1800, or 
1801 ; I am not certain precisely as to 
dates. 

Why did you quit that line of life, 
and when ? — ^It was my father's desire ; 
and besides tliat, in consequence of peace 
first, and afterwards the renewal of hos- 
tilities, I lost, a great deal of money by 
the failure of different persons, and my 
fathor was constantly urging me to quit 
it, as a very hazardous and dangerous em- 
ployment. 

Then your resignation of that profes- 
sion was after the breaking out of hostil- 
ities ? — I am pretty sure it was. 

How soon after' did you pay 10001. to 
Mrs. Clarke for this situation ? — My fa- 
ther paid it ; my- father gave me tlic mo- 
ney for it. 

Was that the only reason assigned for 
your leaving yovu* business of a stock- 
broker, or was it not from embarrassed 
circumstances in the alley ? — I was in- 
vited to stay in the Stock Exchange by 
some of the members, but my rather 
would not consent to it. 

Did you pay all your differences ? — I 
paid my last shilling, and involved my- 
self considerably. 

Did you pay all your differences ? — I 
have never seen the paper, nor my books 
of the StockExchange, because they were 
delivered immediately into the hands of 
the committee ; they were requested to 
be examined, and to this moment I have 
not received them back. All the differ- 
ences would be that which you lose by 
the failure of others ; and among others, 
E. p. Solomons and Mr. Cope were deficit 
to the amount of five or six thousand 
pounds to me, which was the cause of 
my leaving the Stock Exchange. 

Have you paid the debts due from you, 
at the time of your quitting the Stock 
Exchange ? — Certainly not, because these 
are debts due from me in point of honor, 
as it is a place where many of the trans- 
aciions are not legal ; these are due from 
me ; they came suddenly on me ; and I 
believe they are the only transactions that 
I had with those persons. 

JDo you recollect at what time your 
quitting the Stock Exchange took place ? 
—The date I caimot tell ; it was the time 
of tlie failure of Mr. E. P. Solomons and 
Mr. Cope, 

It is a pretty important event in your 
life ; do not you recollect when it oc- 
curred ? — No ; not unless I had my pa- 
pers ; I was endeavouring to recollect this 



morning ; but 1 have not a particl^Sf 
paper here ; I expect my things from 
Lisbon ; and I could tell if I had my ban- 
ker's book. 

You have stated, that you had at va- 
rious times lent money to Mrs. Clarke ; 
had you lent any money to Mrs. Clarke 
previous to your quitting the Stock Ex- 
change ? — I do'not believe I had. 

Had you gi^en any money to Mrs. 
Clarke, previous to your quitting the 
Stock Exch.jige ? — I do not believe that 
I had. 

Were you acquainted with Mrs. Clarke 
previous to your quitting the Stock Ex- 
change ? — Certainly. 

For how long i — I must refer to the 
former answer 1 have made, that I had 
known Mrs. Clarke several years. 

Do you recollect the first time you 
either lent or gave any money to Mrs. 
Clarke ? — 1 do not. 

How long ago might it be, two or 
three or four }ears ago ? — I wish 1 could 
answer the question, but it is impossible ; 
I have not any recollection upon tlie 
subject that can be called accurate, or 
near it. 

Was it all in one year, or in different 
years ?— Of the 10001. 2001. was first given 
iier, and afterwards the 8001. 

Were these the only sums that you ever 
lent her ? — 1 have stated before, that I 
have lent her sums at different times, 
which I had always been assured would 
be repaid, amounting to a considerable 
sum, which I cannot recollect exactly, 
but which never were repaid. 

Do you mean to state, tliat you lent 
various sums of money to a considerable 
amount, expecting them to be repaid, and 
yet have no recollection of what they 
were ? — Except the 170 guineas for the 
vis-a-vis, I have no recollection of the 
precise sums. 

Do you mean to state, that tliey were 
loans to Mrs. Clarke ? — Yes. 

Had you any sccvirity for those sums 
of money that you lent to her ? — None. 

Did you take any memorandum of the 
sums that you lent to her ? — I am pretty 
sure not. 

And those sums were to a consider- 
able amount, at various times, for which 
you took no memorandum ?— -I liave tak- 
en none. 

You arrived from Portugal on Thurs- 
day last ? — Yes. 

Have you seen Mrs. Clarke since your 
return from Portugal ? — Yes. 



when (lid you see Mrs Clarke, since 
your return from Portugal ? — On Sunday 
lust. 

Have you seen her since ? — I saw her 
just now, in the Witwsss's room. 

Was any body witli Mrs. Clarke when 
you saw her ? — I waited upon her to 
request that I mig'ht not be called upon 
as a witness ; seeing the circumstance 
of colonel French's levy in the news- 
paper, 1 saw her address in the news- 
paper. 

Was any bod}^ with Mrs. Clarke when 
you called upon her ? — Nobody but a 
young lady or two. 

Whatconversation passed between Mrs. 
Clarke and you, when you called upon 
her ? — 1 lamented the situation in which! 
found lier placed, as to the notoriety of 
tliis, and that I had always told her I was 
fearful it would become known ; and she 
said the Duke of York, to the best of my 
recollection, h.ad driven her to it by not 
paying her debts, and not being punctual 
in the annuity, as she termed it, that she 
was to receive from him. 

She told you that the Duke of York 
had driven her to this proceeding, by not 
paying her debts, and not being punctual 
in the annuity that she was to receive 
from him ? — I do not know that she said 
he had driven her to it ; my conversation 
was as short as possible, merely to re- 
quest that I might not be called upon. 

Had you seen Mrs. Clarke before you 
went to Portugal, in the course of last 
summer ? — Yes. 

Frequently I — I cannot positively state 
how frequently. 

Do you recollect what was the last 
time yoa lent or gave her money ? — I 
do not indeed. 

Have you lent or given her any money 
since the time of your appointment to the 
commissariat ? — Upon my word I cannot 
recollect ; if it has been, it must be very 
trifling. 

Can you positively assert, that neither 
you nor any other person connected with 
you, solicited Sir Brook Watson to sup- 
poi-t the interest which you supposed to 
be making for you at the Treasury, to 
procure the appointment in the commis- 
sariat department ? — Never to my know- 
ledge. 

Did you know that Sir Brook Watson 
was frequently consulted at the Treasury 
in making out commissariat depart- 
ments ? — I was not acquainted with that 
circumstance ; but I was not at all known 
and I did not even bow to Sir Brook 



Watson if we met ; I was not on suffi- 
ciently good terms witli Sir Brook Wat- 
son to think he would aid me in the ap- 
pointment ; on the contrary, when I 
waited on him, having received my com- 
mission, he did not seem to know mc, 
and ordered me to depart the next morn- 
ing. 

Can you say whether Sir Brook Wat- 
son knew that interest was making in 
your favour at the Treasury for that ap- 
pointment ? — I know nothing' of that cir- 
cumstance. 

Can you positively say that Sir Brook 
Watson did not, to the best of your know- 
ledge, makeany application to assist with 
his recommendation the interest making 
for your appointment ? — I believe to the 
best of my knowledge, that he did not aid 
me in procuring the appointment. 

Have you always and uniformly repre- 
sented that Mrs. Clarke was the autlior 
of your appointment ? — I avoided saying 
any thing upon the subject as much as 
possible. 

Did jou ever at any time say that you 
owed your appointment to Sir Brook 
Watson ? — I have not any recollection of 
saying so, to tlie best of my belief; but it 
is hardly possible to recollect circum- 
stances of such long standing ; I alwavs, 
to shield Mrs. Clarke and to prevent any 
suspicion, said, that she did not give me 
the appointment, and therefore I confine 
myself to the truth Intentionally ; I gave 
that answer when I was pressed by per- 
sons who knew me ; they might conjec- 
ture, but I alwajs avoided the question 
as_nuich as possible, and few persona 
took the liberty of asking mc. 

If you ever said you owed your ap- 
pointment to Sir Brook Watson, could 
you ever have forg"otten it ? — Tlic errors 
of memory are so great, that 1 cannot po- 
sitively speak to such athing,but I should 
imagine 1 never did say so ; trusting to 
one's recollection at alengtli of time is t 
very arduous taak. 

Do you admit, that you might have 
said to some person or other that yoii 
owed your appointment to Sir Brook 
W'atson, and have forgotten that you said 
so ? — I do not think that I ever said so, 
but I do not pledge myself to say that I 
never did say so ; hut I do not believe it. 

Do you admit, that you might have 
said to some person or other that you 
owed your appointment to Sir Brook 
Watson, and have foi'gottcn that you said 
so? — I have answered that quc-tion to^ 
the best of my knowledge. 



96 



WILLIAM HlTSTvISSON, Esq. a mem- 
ber of the House, attending' in his 
place, was examined as follows : 

I believe you were Secretary of the 
Treasury in the months of May, June, 
and July in the year 1805 ? — ^I was. 

Will you acquaint the Committee what 
is the course of application for appoint- 
ments of tliis kind to the Treasury ; and 
whether you recollect any application 
either of Mr. Richai'd Manby, or of tlie 
gentleman who has just been examined ? 
— The course of application for appoint- 
ments of this nature, and all other ap- 
pointments in the gift of the Treasury, as 
far as I know, is this : that an application 
is either made directly to the First Lord 
of the Treasury or the Chancellor of the 
Exchequer, or more indirectly to those 
persons through the channel of one of 
the Secretaries of the Treasury, or the 
private Seci-etaries of those persons : 
sometimes, nay frequently, applications 
are made verbally either to the First Lord 
of the Treasury or to the Chancellor of 
the Exchequer, who makes a memoran- 
dura of the application, and it is then 
noted in the memorandum-book kept by 
Ms private Secretary, or communicated 
to the Secretary of the Treasui-y, to 
be noted in a memorandum book kept 
there : If any application is made for an 
appointment on official cjrounds, that is 
nade certainly in a different shape ; it 
vould then be presented to the Board of 
Treasury in the shape of a memorial, or 
some official document which would g-o 
through the regular course of official bu- 
siness ; of that nature are recommenda- 
tions for promotions for commissaries, or 
any other servants of the public, who 
hiving distinguished themselves, receive 
recommendations from tlie superior un- 
der whom they have served : any docu- 
ment of tlie latter description, I believe, 
would be forthcoming in the Treasury ; 
but as to any application for an appoint- 
ment, I know no instance of such a paper 
being considered an official application 
or register, or any public note made of it : 
in consequence of that, I do not believe 
that tlie most diligent search into the re- 
cords of the Treasury will afford any 
trace of the quarter or of the manner in 
vhich this person was recommended to 
his appointment, whether the application 
was made to myself to be communicated 
to the then First Lord of the Treasury, 
qr made to my then colleague in office, 
or to any other person who had access 
to the First Lord of the Treasury, or 



whether it was made to the First Lord 
of the Treasury himself, I am altogether 
ignorant : I certainly have not the least 
recollection of this person being recom-- 
mended ; and until he stated to the Com- 
mittee this evening that he was an as- 
sistant commissary, I did not know that 
there was such a person upon the Staff; 
upon his stating the circumstance, and 
that he purchased the commission from 
Mrs. Clarke, my attention was of course 
called to Ivis evidence ; I then took tlie 
name of the witness, and I have recalled 
to my recollection, that a person of that 
name had been directed to proceed to » 
Portugal, to serve in the commissariat 
tliere ; and that he was directed for this 
reason, that when a very large force was 
proceeding to Portugal and to Sjiain, it 
of course became necessary, on the com- 
munication of that cii'cumstance from the 
Secretary of State, to provide a commis- 
sariat St iifi" adequate to the amount of the 
army going to serve in those countries : 
1 communicated this to the commissary 
general and the comptrollers of army 
accounts, and desired they would furnish 
me with a complete list of all the Com- 
missaries who were either not absolutely 
wanted in the service of England, op 
being on half pay might be sent : in the 
list so sent, I must have found the name 
of this gentleman, and I can state that 
with the more confidence, because exten- 
sive as the army was, and numerous as 
the commissariat, there was not any one 
fresh officer appointed, the whole were 
taken either from the half pay of the 
commissai-iat as I have stated, or from 
persons who in consequence of the reduc- 
tion of the force in this country, it was 
conceived might be spared for foreign 
service. I am confident I never saw Air. 
Dowler till I saw )iim at the bar ; I cer- 
tainly do not recollect any one circum- 
stance connected with liis appointment : 
I do not know when it took place, nor 
can I give any other account, than that 
which I have now given. I know that 
Mr. Manby holds an appointment in the 
commissariat, because finding him upon 
half pay he was directed to take charge 
of a district in England from which an- 
otiier commissary was sent on foreign 
service ; but I cannot recollect whether 
Mr. Manby was appointed during the 
time I held the situation of Secretary to 
the Treasury, or at any other period. I 
am equally ignorant as to the circum- 
stances which led to his appointment, 
and of the quarter from which ke was re- 



97 



commended, as of the person who has 
been examined. 

Do you recollect Mr. Adams being ap- 
pointed a commissioner of the Lottery ? 
— I do recollect hfs being appointed a 
commissioner of the Lottery, when he 
was private Secretary to Mr. Pitt, at the 
time he was First Lord of the Treasmy. 

WILLIAM STURGES BOURNE, Esq. 

a member of the Tloiise, attending 

in- his place, was examined, as 

follows : 

You were Secretary of the Treasury in 

the montlis of May, June, and July, in the 

year 1805 ? — 1 was. 

Will you acquaint the committee whe- 
ther you recollect any application, either 
of Mr. Richard Manby or of the gentle- 
man who has just been examined ? — After 
the statement which has just been made, 
it will be only necessary for me to state, 
that I never saw Mr Dowlcr, till I saw 
him at the bar to-night. I do not recol- 
lect any application being made to me on 
the subject of this appointment, and am 
totally unacquainted v/ith the circum- 
stances respecting it. 

Mr JOHN GRANT was called in, and 
examined by the Committee, as 
follows : 

Were you agent for colonel French's 
Levy ? — I was. 

Do you know what agreement existed 
between colonel French and captain San- 
don, with regard to the Levy I — That it 
was a joint concern. 

Do you mean by a joint concern, that 
they were to stand in equal proportion of 
gain or loss ? — 1 do. 

Do you of your own knowledge know 
through whose influence it was that colo- 
nel French first obtained his Lettter of 
Service ? — I ha\e no further knowledge 
as to that fact, than what was told me by 
colonel French and captain Sandon. 

Will you relate wliat colonel French 

and captain Sandon told you ? They 

told me tiiat they were to have a Levy, 
and were to get it through a friend, 
which fi-iend at that time I did not'know, 
but before the Letter of Service came out, 
I was acquainted that it was through a 
Mrs. Clarke. 

Did you know from them that they 
gained the Better of Service through the 
medium of that friend then unknown to 
you ? — They told me so. 

Do you recollect that during the pro- 
gress of the Levy, any alteration was ap- 



plied for in the original terms of tJie Levy 
through the same medium, Mrs. Clarke ? 
—1 do know that an alteration was ap- 
plied for ; they applied, but I cannot say 
that that was through the same medium. 

State what that alteration was. — I can- 
not immediately state it from recollec- 
tion, but it will appear upon the I^vee, 
which was issued from the War-office in 
consequence. 

A Letter sanctioning the alteration was 
issuedfrom the War-office in consequence 
of an application, but through what me- 
dium you do not know ? — No. 

Did you ever hear colonel French or 
captain Huxley Sandon say by what 
means they had obtained that alteration ? 
—I in fact knew the means, because it 
was a Letter written applying for such 
an alteration. 

To whom was the Letter addressed ? 
— I understood to the Commander in 
Chief 

From colonel French and captain San- 
don ? — Yes. 

Can you recollect that any other alter- 
ation in the Levy was made ? — I cannot 
charge my memory with any more than 
one. 

Was there any alteration with i-espect 
to boys ? — I think that was in the original 
Letter of Service ; I cannot be certain as 
to that ; but it was either in the original 
Letter of Service or in the amendment. 

Were you acquainted with the terms 
on which Mrs. Clarke's influence was 
obtained by colonel French and captain 
Huxley Sandon ?-I did understand at first 
that she was to have 5001. or guineas ; 
but afterwards I understood there was 
some other alteration, which was to allow 
a guinea for every man raised. 

Do you know tliat any sum or sums of 
money were paid in consequance of that 
last agreement to Mrs. Clarke ? — I have 
been told so ; but know nothing of it 
myself 

Were you told so by colonel French 
or captain Huxley Sandon ? — By both. 

You were told both by colonel French 
and captain Huxley Sandon, that Mrs. 
Clarke received payments according to 
the last agreement of a guinea a man in 
addition to the 500 guineas originally 
contracted for ? — I cannot say whether it 
was upon the first or last agreement, but 
that she received several sums. 

Do you know that she received several 
sums subsequent to the agreement you 
speak of, of a guinea a man ? — I do not 
know at what period she received any 



96 



sum ; noT do I Sj^euk i'rom niy knowledge 
of her receiving any, but only from what 
I was informed by colonel French and 
captain Huxley Sandon. 

Did you as agent to the Levy pay any 
sum of money to her or to any other per- 
son ? — To her none ; but to several others 
very large sums. 

Do you recollect paying a draft of 
2001. drawn in favour of Mr. Corri, 
by captain Huxley Sandon ? — I accepted 
such a draft, and it Avas paid by my 
banker. 

The amount of that was placed to the 
Levy account ? — To the Levy account. 

Have you ever understood or been told 
by colonel French or captain Sandon, 
that Mrs. Clarke had received very con- 
siderable sums for her influence on the 
Levy account ?— I have. 

Did tliey ever either one or the other 
of them tell you, or have 3'ou reason to 
know, the amount of the different sums 
paid to her on your account ? — I know 
nothing of my own self; but they have 
mentioned to me tlie sum, I think of 
17001. 

Did you ever hear colonel French or 
captain Sandon complain of Mrs. Clarke 
having disappointed them in any of their 
applications on the subject ? — I do not 
know that they ever made any others to 
her. 

Did you ever hear colonel French or 
captain Sandon complam of Mrs. Clarke 
having disappointed them in any of their 
applications on that subject ? — I cannot 
call any such thing to my memory ; it 
does not occur to me at present. 

Do you recollect colonel French and 
captain Sandon to have expressed them- 
selves satisfied with the exertions Mrs. 
Clarke had made in their favour ? — No. 

Do you recollect that colonel French 
ever applied to you, respecting the loan 
of 50001. that was to be raised for the 
Commander in Chief ?-— He did mention 
to me that he wished to afford the Duke 
such an accommodation. 

Did colonel French desire you to take 
any steps towards procuring the money ? 
—No. 

Did he state to you his reason for 
wishing to accommodate the Commander 
in Chief with that sum ? — No. 

But you recollect that colonel French 
spoke to you, respecting the raising of 
such a sum of money for the Commander 
in Chief ? — I do ; that he asked him to 
lend it to him for the purpose. 

Will you as nearly as you can recollect 



state what passed upon the subject l — t 
do not recollect any particulars that 
passed, further than his asking me to 
lend him such a sum of money fgr that 
purpose ; as to the particular words I 
cannot possibly recollect. 

You took no steps whatever for rais- 
ing the money ? — None. 

Did you state to colonel French that 
it could not be done ? — I told cx>lonel 
French that under tlie heavy advance I 
already was for the Ic vj% I certainly could 
not do it with convenience. 

Do )'ou recollect that colonel French 
suggested, that this loan of 50001. was 
to be advanced, provided the arrears due 
from government on tlic Levy account 
were paid up ? — No such condition or 
provision was stated ; but it was observ- 
ed, that if that should be recovered it 
might form a part of it. 

Was it colonel French who made that 
observation ? — I really cannot recollect 
whether it was from colonel French or 
from myself. 

Then the mode of accommodating the 
Duke of York was agitated between 
you ?— If that may be called a mode, it 
certainly was. 

Do you mean to say, that if the sum 
due from Government to colonel French 
on account of the levy was paid up, the 
Duke of York might on that event have 
been accommodated ? — No, certainly 
not. 

Was any application made to your 
knowledge by the Duke of York, for the 
paying up of the sums due on the levy I 
— Not that I know of. 

Did colonel Frencli ever tell you such 
application was to be made or had been 
n\ade ? — Colonel French did promise that 
he would memorial the Duke upon it. 

Did you say that if the money was 
paid up, the 50001. was to be lent to 
him ? — No. 

Then you mean merely to state, that 
if the money due on account of the levy 
was paid, that on that event you would 
have been able to have met colonel 
French's wishes, and to have made the 
advances to the Duke of York I — No ; I 
never mentioned any such idea nor took 
it into consideration. 

I thought you said, that there being so 
much due from colonel Fi*ench on the 
account of the levy, you could not meet 
his wishes upon that subject ? — That did 
not relate to what was due from the War 
Office, but to a large sum still due from 
colonel French and captain Sandon ; 



99 



uliich tlicy had expended perhaps in 
otlicr ways, and which sum they are still 
indebted to me a very larg-e amount. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

[The witness ^as again called in.] 

Do vou recollect colonel French com- 
plaining of other parlies having larger 
bounties than were allowed to his levy, 
and tiiat that hurt his recruiting very 
much ? — He did mention, that he met 
recruiting parties wherever he went ; but 
as to' the bounty being larger or not, I 
cannot undertake to say that he did. 

It is understood that colonel French 
and captain Sandon had at one time 
thirteen guineas, and at another time 
nineteen ; at what period was the sum 
advanced from the thirteen to the nine- 
teen ? — 1 cannot speak particularly as to 
the period; but I think it was in ISIay 
1804 ; if the letter of service is referred 
to, that will shew it distinctly. 

Did colonel French tell you whether 
that advance was procured through the 
medium of Mrs. Clarke ? — No. 

Do you recollect that colonel French 
ever told you that through the influence 
of Mrs. Clarke, he had obtained per- 
mission to have his recruits passed nearer 
the places where they wei-e recruited 
than before ? — No. 
[The Witness was directed to withdraw. 

Mrs. MARY ANN CLARKE was called 
in and addressed to the committee, as 
follows : 

I feel myself so verj'^ unwell, and so 
very much fatigued, that it is impossible 
for me to be examined this evening ; I 
have been waiting here eight hours, and 
I am quite exhausted with the fatigue ; 
my feelings have been very much harass- 
ed during the time. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

[The witness was again called in. 
[The chairman informed Mrs. Clarke, 
that it was the pleasure of the com- 
mittee that her examination should 



proceed, and that a chair shoiddbe 
provided for her accommodation, 
(Mrs. Clarke.) The chair will not 
take the fatigue off my mind. 

[The Witness was directed to with- 
draw. 

WILLIAM DOWLER, Esq. was again 
called in, and examined by the 
committee, as follows : 

Since you quitted this bar, have you 
had any communication with Mrs. Clarke ? 
— Only to oflcr her refreshment, as she 
is very unwell ; I procured a glass of 
wine and watef for hep, which I put be- 
side her. 

Have you communicated to her the 
substance of what passed here during 
your examination ? — No. • 

How long were you in the room with 
Mrs. Clarke \ — I imagine five or ten mi- 
nutes •.' the gentlemen withdrew from 

the room for some time and I was absent 
at the time: I was ; in the room perhaps 
five or ten minutes. 

Did you give Mrs. Clarke any intima- 
tion whatever of what had passed in this 
house ? — She asked me the names of the 
gentlemen by whom I had been ex- 
amined ; and I answered that I did not 
know them. 

What other persons were present in 
the room ? — The whole of the witnesses 
I believe ; she was unwell, and several 
gentlemen gathered round her, and 
asked her whether she would take te- 
frehment. 

Hrtw many witnesses are there attend- 
ing ? — When I say all the witnesses, I 
suppose there were eight or nine in the 
room, I cannot speak positively. 

Were you apprised that you ought not 
to have any communication with Mrs. 
Clarke ?— I'felt so. 

And acted entirely from your own 
feelings upon the subject ? — Yes. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

[The chairman was directed to report 
progress, and ask leave to sit again.] 



14 




ovtS) y" die Febtiarii 1 809. 



MB. WHARTON IN THE CHAIR. 



WILLIAM STURGES BOURNE, Esq. 
attending in his place, made the fol- 
lomng' statement : 

I stated on a former niglit, that I had 
never seen the witness Mr. Dowler, and 
that I did not recollect that he had ever 
been recommended to Mr. Pitt through 
me ; but that it" such recommendation 
had taken place, I should probably be able 
to find a memorandum of it : I have 
since searched for such a memorandum, 
but I can find no trace of his having been 
80 recommended. 

WILLIAM HUSKISSON, Esq. attend- 
ing in his place, made the following 
Statement!: 
I stated on the former evening that I 
had no knowledge of Mr. Dowler, nor no 
recollection of ever having seen him, or 
his having been recommended through 
me to Mr. Pitt. I certainly have now 
no recollection of any circumstance I had 
not then ; in consequence of what I stated 
to tlie committe, that I should make an 
inquiry, I proceeded, in the first instance, 
to cause a careful search to be made at 
lie Treasury, whether among tlie muni- 
meats of that department there was any 
paper to be found, or any trace of a 
recommendation of this gentleman ; the 
result of that search was, that there was 
no such document in tlie Treasury. I 
then sent to the present commissary ge- 
neral, Mr. Coffin, and I desired Mr. 
Coffin to examine all the books of the 
late Sir Brook Watson, and all jtlie pa- 
pers which, in the course of office, when 
he succfcded Sir Brook Watson, hadbcen 
placed in his care j I also desired the 
person who had Sir Brook Watson's pri- 
vate papers, his executor, to examine 
such papers as were in their possession ; 
they have not been able to find, either in 



the public records of the commissariat 
department, or among his private papers 
any trace of a recommendation by him, 
either official or private, of Mr Dowler, 
to the situation he now holds ; the only 
mention made of Mr. Dowler in the 
books of this department, is wliat I shall 
state presently. Having failed in this 
quarter I applied to Mr. Adams, Mr. 
Pitt's private Secretary at the time he 
was appointed, for any information he 
might possess, or any recollection he 
might have upon the subject. Mr. Adams 
had not the least recollection, as he stated 
and is ready to state in evidence if he is 
called, of any recommendation of Mr. 
Dowler ; he states, that with respect to 
all private papers of Mr. Pitt, and any 
memorandum which mir^ht have been 
kept of persons who had been recom- 
mended to him for appointments whe- 
ther those appointments had been con- 
ferred or not, they were in the posses- 
sion of the Bishop of Lincoln, as his ex- 
ecutor. Mr. Adams went yesterday to 
th(? town residence of the Bishop of Lin- 
cold, the Bishop is at Buckden, and 
Uierefore he could not obtain any infor- 
mation there -, but Mr. Adams stated to 
me, that before the papers of the late 
Mr. Pitt were removed from Downing- 
street to the Bishop's, all those which did 
not appear to be of any importance, but 
merely of indifference, were destroyed. 
Whether any memorandum of this nature 
were or were not, I must leave the com- 
mittee to form an opinion. I also in- 
quired of every gentleman in the Trea- 
sury, at that time, as to any knowledge 
they might have respecting tlie manner in 
which M^. Dowler had been recommend- 
ed ; none of those, whom I have seen, 
profess to have any knowledge of the 
quarter from which he was recommended. 
Under these circumstances, it may per- 



iOl 



haps be necessary to stale, if the com- 
mittee wishes for any further light I can 
throw upon tills subject, that I find upon 
the 29th March 1805, Sir Brook Watson, 
then commissary g^eral, applied offici- 
ally to the Treasury by a letter, which I 
hold in my hand, that three additional 
assistant commissaries should be appoint- 
ed. If it is necessary I will read the let- 
ter. On tlie 5th of June 1805, Sir Brook 
Watson writes ag-ain to the Treasury, 
requesting that five additional commis- 
saries may be appointed. But I must 
here observe, that by the context of the 
letter of the fifth of June, it appears, 
that his request of the 29th of March liad 
not then been attended to ; no appoint- 
ments had taken place in consequence of 
the former letter ; that would be, there- 
fore, five in the whole : and he presses 
their immediate appointment. On the 
6th of July, he stated the necessity of 
one more, in consequence of one being 
in ill health. In consequence of these 
requisitions of Sir Brook Watson, it ap- 
pears that on the 15th of June I was di- 
rected by the Lords of the Treasury to 
write a letter to the comptrollers of 
army accounts. This is the first trace I 
can find of Mr. Dowler. This letter it 
may be necessary, perhaps, I should 
read to the committee. 

[Mr. Huskisson read the letter.3 

" Treasury Chambers, 

June 15th, 1805." 
" Gentlemen, 

" The lords commissioners of 
"his Majesty's Treasury intending 
*' to recommend to his Majesty, 
••William Dowler, gentleman, for 
••the situation of assistant com- 
" missary on the home establish- 
•' ment, if he shall be found px-o- 
*• perly qualified for that service ; I 
" am commanded by my lords, to 
"desire you will accordingly exa- 
"mine into his fitness and suffi- 
" ciency, an<l report to this board, 
" the result of such enquiry, 
"lam, &c. 

" JFfn J/jiakisson." 
" Comprs. Army Accounts." 

With respect to appointments of this 
nature none are made without referring 
to the comptrollers of army accounts, 
to examine into the fitness of the person ; 



it therefore becomes necessary, in case 
my colleague or myself were directed to 
prepare a commission for such a person, 
to put him into this course of examina- 
tion, as preliminary to granting him such 
an appointment. In consequence of this 
reference to the comptrollers, a report 
was received from them, which it may be 
also necessary to read : this report was 
on the 3d of July. 

[Mr. Huskisson read the letter.3 
« (No 175.)" 

" Comptrollers Office, 
3d July, 1805." 

"My Lords, 

" Mr. Huskisson having by his 
"letter of the 15 ultimo, signified to 
*■ us your Lordship's commands,that 
" we should examine into the fitness 
" and sufficiency of Mr. W. Dowler 
"for tlie situation. of assistant coni- 
" missary on the home establish- 
" ment, and report to your Lord- 
" ships tlie result of such inquiry ; — 
" We have been attended by Mr. 
" Dowler ; and having proposed 
" such questions as we conceived 
" necessary for hira to answer in 
'•writing, we report to your Lord- 
" sliips that, in answer to our ques- 
" tioiis, Mr. Dowkr states himself to 
"be thirty -two years of age, born 
" in the parish of St. Clement Danes, 
" London. 

" Tliat he has not hitherto served 
"in any commissariat, but that he 
" received a commercial education 
•'at Mr. Eaton's in Tower-street, 
" and for sixteen years had the ma- 
" nagement of his father's compting- 
" house, till he retired from busi- 
" ness ; that he understands French 
" and Latin ; that he is conversant 
" in arithmetic in general, including 
"fractions; that not having served 
"in the commissariat, he cannot 
" say that he is acquainted with the 
" forms of Returns and Vouchers, 
" or the method of keeping and 
" making up commissariat accounts 
" for cash and stores : But as he has 
" received a comn>crcial education, 
" and perfectly conversant in mer- 
" cantile accounts, we are of opi- 
" nion, that your Lordships may 
"with propriety recommend Mr. 
'• William Dowler to His Majesty, 



102 



"for the situation of assistant com- 
" missary. 
" We have the honour to be, 
" My Lords, 

*' Your Lordship's 
" most obedient 
"humble servants, 
" John JUartin Leake. 
" J. Erskine." 

" Rt. Hon. Lords comm'rs of 
" his Majesty's Treasury." 

Indorsed : 
" (175.)" 

" 3d July ISO5. 
"Comptr's army accounts. 
" On tl\e fitness and sufficiency of 
" Mr. Wni. Dowler for the 
" situation of an asst. comm'y. 
"on the honie establishment." 
"No. 3,730." 

" Rec'd 4th Julv 1805." 
" Rec'd 5 July 1805." 
" Give the necessary directions for 
the appointment." 

" Cipriani," 

In consequence of this report from the 
comptrollers, a letter was written to the 
Secretary at War, desiring' the Secretary 
at War to lay before his Slajesty a com- 
mission for the appointment of Mr. Dow- 
ler to be an assistant commissary on the 
Iiome establishment. And here it may 
be necessary for me to state the course 
of proceeding in that respect ; it Is indeed 
in consequence of some question I put to 
the Witness. If a person is appointed a 
commissary on the home establisliment, 
no commission issues from the Treasury, 
but merely a letter to the Secretary at 
"War, desiring he would submit a com- 
mission to his Majesty : if it is neces- 
sary to send him upon foreign service, 
then he gels a Treasury commission, 
which Treasury commission entitles him 
(as the Witness slates he bad received) to 
five shillings additional pay in conse- 
quence of going on foreign service. The 
first commission then issued from the 
Treasury to Mr. Dowler, was when he 
■went on foreign service, to South Ame- 
rica, and is dated the first of November 
1806 ; that commission is still at the 
Treasury, Mr. Dowlernever having called 
for it nor taken it out. On the 27th of 
July, I find a letter* from my tlien col- 



league, yJi-. Rourne, stating to the com- 
missary general that Mr. Dowler had 
been ap])ointed an assistant commis- 
sary : this is all I can trace in the Trea- 
Bury or in the other departments respect- 
ing this appointment. It may not be im- 
proper I should state to the committee, 
that I do find that, in consequence of the 
requisition of the commissary general 
for this addition of five commissaries, 
made in June, there were appointed on 
the 18th of June a Mr. Stokes, on the 
same day a Mr. Green, on the 10th of 
July Mr. William Dowler, on the 25tli 
Mr. Richard Hill, and on the 26th Mr. 
Charles Pratt. It is not within my re- 
collection at this moment, upon what re- 
commendation, or through whose applica- 
tion any one of those persons was ap- 
pointed ; indeed, on looking over the list 
of the whole of the commissaries ap- 
pointed during Mr. Pitt's last administra- 
tion, amounting to seventeen or eighteen 
I find but two of whom I have any recol- 
lection ; wliethcr I shall be able to find 
by the recollection of others wlio i-ecom- 
mcnded them, I cannot say. I will only 
state further, that I nm satisfied the chan- 
nel through which he was recommended, 
whatever it may be, was one that did not 
give rise to any suspicion in any body 
connected with the Treasury at that 
time, that there was any improper influ- 
ence employed ; and I can state that con- 
fidently for tliis reason, that it is the rule 
of the Tresury, if they have any reason 
to apprehend any such transaction, to di- 
rect the comptrollers to whom they refer 
the parties (and the comptrollers have a 
power) to examine upon oath as to such 
a fact. I could produce proof, if that is 
necessary of such an inquiry being di- 
rected within these six months as to a 
person in the commissariat. I merely 
state this, because not finding any refer- 
ence to such an inquiry being directed, I 
am sure that no suspicion of any such 
circumstance was in the mind of any per- 
son connected with the Treasury. I have 
no recollection, nor do I know even now, 
of my own knowledge, through what quar- 
ter Mr. Manby was recommended. I 
have learned from a RiglU Honourable 
Friend of jnine, who was then one of the 
Lords of the Treasury, that he was the 
person applied to, to mention Mr. Manby 
to Mr. Pitt. If I had been able to trace 
in the same manner respecting this gen- 
tleman, I would have mformed the com- 
mittee. 



103 



• (Copy) 

" Treasury Chambers, 
July 2rth, 1805." 
" Sir, 
" I am commarjjjctl by the Lords 
" Commissioner^ of His Majesty's 
" Treasury to acquaint you, that 
" thcvhave directed the Secretary at 
" War to submit a Warrant to His 
" Majesty for appointing- William 
" Dowlcr, Esq. to be an Assistant 
" Commissary of Stores and Provi- 
" srons to l.i>€ Forces, from the lOtli 
*' instant, at the rate of 15s. a day. 
" I am, &c. 
. " JF. S. lioiinie." 

" Comn/ Gen Sir Brook M'atson." 

Mrs. MARY ANN CLARKE was called 
in, and examined by the Committee, 
as follows : 

Did you know colonel French ? — Mrs. 
Clarke. I have been very much insulted. 
I knew I should be protected when i sent 
for the proper Gentleman. I sent for the 
Serjeant at Arms to conduct me in : it 
was before I t^ot into the Lobby. 

Did you know colonel French ? — Yes, 
1 did. 

Do you recollect wliether lie applied 
to you in the jear 1804, to use your in- 
fluence with the Commander in Chief, to 
have a levy of men for tiie army? — He 
applied to me, but I cannot rocollect tlie 
year. 

Do you recollect that he applied to you 
to use your influence with the Comman- 
der in Chief, to liave a levy of men for 
the army ? — Yes, I do. 

Do you recollect if colonel French of- 
fered you any pecuniary advantag-es for 
using" your influence ? — Yes, 1 do ; or I 
should not have mentioned his name. 

Do you recollect what those olTers 
were ? — No, I do not. 

Do you recollect any part of the oflTep 
that colonel Frencli made ? — I have seen 
all the papers ; bvit if I was to be guided 
by them, I should not guess nearer the 
thing itself tlian from my own memory ; 
I cannot recollect the time nor the con- 
ditions. 

Do you recollect that colonel French 
entered into any conditions with you ?' — 
Yes, I do. 

Did those conditions imply, th.at you 
were to receive a ]5ecuniary reward for 
vour influence with the Commander in 
Chief ; — Certainly. 

Did you, in consequence of this, apply 
tp the Commander^ in Chief, and request 



that colonel French might be allowed ta 
have a levy ? — Certainly. 

Did you state to the Commander in 
Cliief, that you were to iiave any pecu- 
niary advantages if colonel French was 
allowed to have a levy ? — Yes, cer- 
tainly. 

Did the Commander in Chief promise 
you, after sucli application, that colo- 
nel French should have a levy ? — Yes, he 
did. 

Did yon, in consequence of colonel 
French having such levy, receive any 
sums of money from him or any other 
person on that account ? — Yes. 

Can you state any, particular sums tliat 
wei'e paid to you on tiiat account, and 
by wliom ? — I recollect having one sum, 
but I caimot tell whether it was colonel 
French or captain Sandon, of 500 guin- 
eas, bank notes, making up the sum of 
guineas ; and I paid 500 pounds of it or 
account to Hirkctt, for a service of plate, 
and His Royal Higliness paid tlie remain- 
der by liis own bills ; I fancy His Royal 
Higliness told me so. 

Do you recollect any otlicr sum or 
sums tiiat you received ? — \'es, but C 
cannot speak to tlie amount of them. I 
fancy that Mr. Dovvler was by, when 
I received the money I paid for the 
plate. 

Do you recollect that either colonel 
Frencl\ or captain Sandon applied to yoo. 
to prevail u])on tlie Commander in Chief, 
to make any alterations from the original 
terms of the levy ? — They teased mc 
every day, and I always told His Royal 
Highness, or gave him colonel French's 
notes ; but 1 cannot tell what it was 
about, for I nc\cr gave myself the trou- 
ble to i-ead tliem. I w^is not aware of 
what they always asked me or wanted, 
but His Royal Highness always under- 
stood it, I believe. 

Do you recollect, that during the pro- 
gress of the levy, any loan was to have 
been made to tlie Commander in Chief", 
by colonel F/ench ? — No, no loan by col- 
onel French. 

Do you recollect that any loan was to 
have been made to the Commander in 
Chief, arising out of the levy, or con- 
nected with tlie levy I — Colonel French 
told me, that if His Royal Highness 
would pass the accounts which had 
been some time standing, and which col- 
onel French and his Agent had every 
reason to expect to have been passed be- 
fore, and which were all very correct, he 
would accommodate liim with 50001. upon 



1 0-1 



proper security being given, at the regu- 
lar interest. 

Did you speak to the Commander in 
Chief upon this subject ? — Yes, I did. 

State what further you know upon 
that point — I believe that his Royal 
Highness applied as far as was proper in 
him, and he could not command the mo- 
ney from the different offices, or the office 
where it was to be paid, and the thing- 
dropped ; he has no business whatever 
with money, and perhaps he was rather 
delicate on that subject of pressing, when 
he expected to receive the 50001. on loan, 
and where it might be publicly known 
afterwards. 

How often have you seen Mr. Dowler 
since he arrived in England ? — Once, and 
the other night, till he was called in 
here ; I have not seen him since. 

Then you have seen Mr. Dowler but 
twice since his arrival in England ! — Cer- 
tainly not. 

Did you inform colonel Wardle of the 
details of the transaction relating to co- 
lonel French's levy ? — Yes, I did of some 
Sart ; of the best part, but not of all that 
Ir. Dowler has mentioned, by what I saw 
by the papers ; I have had no communica- 
tion by note or otherwise with him, or any 
one connected with this business, since I 
left the House the other night ; I have only 
seen two men since ; General Clavering 
has called twice to-day, begging that he 
might not be brought forward, but I 
would not see him ; and another gentle- 
inan, whose name I will mention here- 
after, and what he came upon. 

How long have you been acquainted 
with Mr. Dowler ? — As I have seen the 
papers, it is almost useless to ask me 
that, because I might agree with him. 

How long have you been acquainted 
with Mr. Dowler ? — Eight, nine, or ten 
years ; I cannot say which. 

Have you not at various times received 
sums of money from Mr. Dowler ?— Some 
few sums. 

Can you recollect the particulars of 
any of the sums, or the amount of the 
whole, which you may have received from 
Mr. Dowler ? — I can speak particularly 
as to receiving a thousand pounds for his 
situation. 

Was that 10001. which you received for 
his situation, the last sum of money you 
received from Mr. Dowler ? — No. 

Was it the first you had ever received 
from Mr. Dowler ? — ^I cannot speak par- 
ticularly as to that. 

Do you owe Mr. Dowler any money ? 



—I never recollect my debts to gentle- 
men. 

Do you owe Mr. Dowler any money ? 
—I do not recollect, nor can recognise 
any debt to him. 

Have you not frequently recognised i j 
debts to Mr. Dowler, and promised to 1 1 
have them paid? — I only recollect one, 'I 
where I had two or three carriages seized 
in execution, or something ; I had nothing 
to go out of town in to Weybridge ; I sent ■ 
a note to Mr. Dowler's lodgings, and j 
begged he would buy or procure me a 
carriage immediately ; he did so in a few 
hours, and I told him his Royal Highness 
Avould pay him hereafter for it ; his Roy- 
al Highness told me that he would do so J 
for it, or he would recollect him in some 
way. 

Did you inform Mr. Dowler of that 
answer of his Royal Highness ? — Yes, I 
did. 

Are you positive of that ?-f-0, quite so. 

Try to recollect yourself, and answer 
positively, whether you were not in the 
habit of receiving money from Mr. fow- 
ler prior to the money given for his ap- 
pointment ? — I am perfectly collected at 
present, and I cannot recollect any thing 
of that sort ever happening. I am very 
equal to answer any thing now which is 
asked me by this honourable House. 

Do you recollect seeing Mr. Corri at 
your house on the 6th of January last ?— 
I have seen him twice at my house. 

In the month of January .* — I cannot 
recollect the month ; it is not long since. 

What other persons were at your house 
on the first occasion that you saw Mr. 
Corri ? — I found Mr. Corri at my house 
one day, in consequence of a note I had 
sent to him to procure me a box at the 
Opera, to treat witli my lawyer, Mr. Com- 
rie, about one ; it was very near dinner- 
time when I found him there ; I could not 
do less than ask him to dine with me ; and 
afterwards he went up into Uxe drawing- 
room ; there was a gentleman, who was 
a relation of mine, who dined with us, 
and some young ladies. 

Were that gentleman and these young 
ladies the only persons with whom Mr. 
Corri was in company at your house on 
that day ? — I believe one or two came in, 
in the course of the evening. 

Who were the one or two ? — I do not at 
this moment recollect ; if you will ask me 
exactly their names, and make the ques- 
tion pointed, I will answer it ; they were 
my friends, no doubt : but I believe only 
one came in. 



10; 



who was that one ? — A friend. 

What was his name ?— If you will tell 
ne his name, I will tell you whethex- it 
vas liim or not. ^ 

[The Chairman informed the Witness 
that she must answer the question.] 

It was colonel Wardle. 

Was colonel Wardle the only other 
)erson that came that evening ? — And 
ny relation. 

Do you recollect having received a se- 
cond visit from Mr. Corri at your house 
omc time after this ? — Yes ; he brought 
wo boys to sing- to me. 

State the names of all the men who 
net Mr. Corri at your house that even- 
ng. — If I did so, I should not have a de- 
ent man call on me during the whole of 
his time. 

[The Chairman informed the witness 
she must answer the question.] 

Am I obliged to answer the question ? 
f I am, I do not wish to shelter myself. 

[The Chairman informed the witness, 
that it was her duty to answer the 
question proposed to her.] 

Must I, without appealing to you ? 

[_Ckairman. — If any improper questions 
are proposed, the Committee will 
take notice of them, and prevent 
their being put. 

No one has yet done that to me. 

[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

[The witness was again called in, and 
was informed by the Chairman, that 
if any question should be put, which 
she thought improper to be answer- 
ed, she was at liberty to appeal to 
the Chairman, whether that question 
should be answered or not ; and that 
with respect to the last question put 
to her, the Committee expected 
that she should answer that directly 
or positively.] 
State the names of all the men who 
net Mr. Corri at your house that evening. 
—Captain Thompson, colonel Wardle, 
,nd a newspaper man, whose name I 
eally do not recollect ; I never saw him 
►ut twice before ; but he answered ex- 
ictly to the description I read in the pa- 
ler, as given by Mr. Corri ; I shall know 
t tomorrow ; it begins with Mac. 
Was the name Macallum ? — Yes. 
Did you represent any of those persons 
o Mr. Corri, under a false name ? — No. 
told him one was a member, which was 
ery true. 
You did not tell him that it was Mr. 



Mellish, a member ? — ^fo, it was his own 
mistake. 

Which of the thr«e persons was it, 
that you introduced to Mr. Corri, and 
represented as a member ' — Mr. Wardle. 

Do you recollect in what sums you re- 
ceived the 10001. that Mr. Dowler gave 
you for his place ? — Perfectly well. 

State them.— 2001. first, and 8001. af- 
terwards, in one sum, which his father 
came up to town to sell out of the 
funds. 

AVas not that 2001. paid to you before 
the appointment had been obtained ? — A 
few days. 

You have stated, that you do not ac- 
curately recollect how long you have 
been acquainted with Mr. Dowkr, whe- 
ther eight, or nine, or ten years ? — Ex- 
actly so. 

Cannot you recollect whether it was 
eight or ten years ? — No, I do not think 
I can. 

Were you acquainted with Mr.Dov/ler 
before you lived in Gloucester-place ? — 
Yes, I was, some years. 

Were you acquainted vi^ith him before 

you lived in Tavistock-place ? Yes, I 

was. 

Did you never receive any money from 
Mr. Dowler, while you were living in 
Tavistock-place ? — No. 

Do you recollect your ever having re- 
ceived any money, before you received 
the 2001. 'part of the 10001. from Mr. 
Dowler ? — No, I do not recollect that I 
had. 

Do you recollect having received any 
money since the 10001. except the money 

for the carriage ? 1 think once or 

twice I have, speaking from my recol- 
lection. 

Did you receive the money for the car- 
riage, or did he pay for the carriage ? — 
He paid for it, and he sent the carriage 
in within the space of two hours. He 
bought it of a colonel Shipley. 

Did he pay for it ? — Yes, certamly. 

He did not give you the money to pay 
for it, but paid for it himself ? — Yes. 

Do you recollect any other sums of 
money you received from him subse- 
quent to' that respecting the carriage ? — 
Only the other two sums of 8001. and 
2001. 

Were they before the carriage or af- 
terwards ? — Before. 

Then are those the only three in- 
stances of your receiving money from 
Mr. Dowler, the 2001. and 8001. and the 
money for the carriage J— I cannot speak 



106 



to any exact sum, but 1 tlilnk he has 
once or twice paid sometliing- for me to 
my housekeeper ; when she has told him 
something^ that was distressing', he has 
g-iven her money to ])ay for tliinsfs, when 
his Royal Highness was not in the way ; 
it has not come to my knowledge some- 
times for a week afterwards ; but those 
were marked things, the other things. 

Was Mr. Dowler in the habit of seeing 
von very frequently r Not very fre- 
quently, but when he had lodgings in 
London : about the time of col. French's 
levy he was. 

Did you see 'Sfv. Dowler, after he 
came from examination at this bar, the 
last niglit of examination ? — Not the last 
time he was examined, but before 

Upon his retiring from the bar ? — Ne- 
ver since. 

After his first examination licre ? — 
Yes, I did. 

Did any thing pass between you and 
Mr. Dowler respecting his examination, 
-when he retui-ned ? — Certainly not about 
money concerns ; he only mentioned to 
some gentlemen who were present, the 
conduct of one or two of the members, 
who he thought harassed him very much, 
and put questions very distressing to his 
feelings on private occurrences, that had 
nothing to do with the q\iestion pending ; 
it was a Mr. Bootle he was speaking of; 
that he would rather give (I think his ex- 
pression was) every guinea he was worth, 
than be brought before such a place 
again. 

Did he state what he had been ex- 
amined to ? — He said he had been exam- 
ined closely to his private concerns, he 
did not speak of any thing else ; it was 
not to me, it was to this gentleman, a 
stranger, one of the members. 

Did )ou ask him wliat he had been ex- 
amined to, or make any observations as 
to what had passed ? — I asked him who 
had examined bim. 

But not what he had been examined 
to ? — No. 

How long have you been acquainted 
with the Duke of York ? — I believe it 
^vas 1803 when he first took me under 
his protection. 

AVere j-ou acquainted with the Duke 
of York before that period } — Yes, I 
was. 

At that period he took you more im- 
mediately under his protection ; had you 
an establishment from that time ?— No, I 
think it was from 1804 to 1806, that the 
establishment commenced onlv in Glou- 



)t 

i 



cestcr-place ; ^v c were in Park-lane be- 
fore, in a furnished house. 

Had jou any .establishment of horses 
and carriages in Park -lane ? — Only what 
belonged to myself. 

Wliat number of carriages had you 
when you lived in Gloucester-place I — 1 
always had two. 

What numl)er of horses I — About six ; 
sometimes eight. 

AVhat number of men-servants ? — I do 
not know, without I went over it. 

State the servants you had. — There 
was butler, coachman, postillion, groom, 
mostly a man cook, a gardener, and two 
footmen ; from seven to nine, I do not 
know exactly. 

To whom did the house in which yo 
lived, belong ? — To the Duke. 

Wlio paid tlie' expences of tlie estab-l 
lisliment ? — I did. 

What allowance did you receive from 
the Duke of York for that purpose ? — 
His Royal Highness promised me lOOOl- 
to be paid montlily, but sometimes he 
could not make the payments good, which 
was the occasion of many distressing 
circumstances happening. 

Was it on the bare promise of 10001. 
a year, that you mounted such an estab- 
lishment as you have mentioned, and 
with the expectation of no other means 
of defraying it ? — His Royal Highness did 
not tell me what he would give me till I 
was in it. 

When was it that His Royal Highness 
promised you 10001. a year ? — He began 
it by paying it to me. 

How long did he continue to pa}' it re- 
gularly ? — Till almost the whole time that 
we were together in it ; for three montlis 
before His Royal Higliness left me, he 
never gave me a guinea, though he was 
with me every day. 

How were the monthly payments 
made ; by His Royal Highness's own 
hand, or by what other means ? — His 
Royal Highness wished me to receive it 
from Greenwood ; but I would not sub- 
ject myself to that, although it would 
have been more punctually paid. 

How did you receive it ? — From His 
Royal Highness. 

Did you ever receive more than at tlie 
rate of a thousand a-year from His Royal 
Highness ?— His Royal Highness, if any 
thing unpleasant had happened, which 
was always happening, would sometimes 
con rive to get a little more," and bring 
met 
Do vou know what is the total araoun' 



107 



oi'tiie sums you received from Ills Roy.il 
Highness, during* tlie time you lived ia 
it loucester-place — Certainly not. 

Were the sums you received from His 
Royal Hijjhness adesftiate to the payment 
of tlie expences of tlie establishment you 
kept up ? — I convinced His Ko^'al High- 
ness tliat it did not more than pay the 
servants' waf^^es and their liveries. 

Did you state that to His Royal High- 
ness ? — Many times. 

What observation did he make in con- 
sequence ? — I do not know that he made 
any observation on tliat ; but after we 
had been intimate sometime, he told me, 
that if 1 was clever, 1 should never ask 
him for money. 

Do you remember at wliat period it 
was that His Hoyal [ligliness made that 
observation ? — No, I tlo not ; but it was 
when he had gTeat confidence in me. 

Was it before you removed to (ilou- 

cester-place r — Not till some time after. 

Can you at all state what was the 

amount of the annual expense of your 

establishment ? — No. 

Pretty nearly ? — Not the least ; I can- 
Hot give a guess. 

You staled in a former part of your 
examination, that you were going to 
Weybrjdge ; had you a house at Wey- 
bridge ? — Ves. 

Was that your house or the Duke of 
York's ? — It was the Duke's. 

Had you a separate establishment 
there, or did the establishment move 
from Gloucester-place to Weybrldge, and 
from Weybrldge to Gloucester-place ? — 
There was a groom there and a garden- 
er, and two maids ; the remainder of tiie 
servants waited on me when I went ; I 
was never there but from Saturdays till 
Mondays, and I always took four more 
servants with me, sometimes five. 

Did the sums of money you received 
in the monthly payn\ents, and by occa- 
sional payments from the Duke of York, 
Ticarly cover the expense of your estab- 
lishment ? — If it had, I should never have 
i)een harassed for money as I was during 
the whole time I was under Ills Royal 
Hlghness's protection. 

Ilo you know a person of the name of 
William Withers ? — Yes, I do. 

What is he ? — He is a Sheriff's Officer. 
How came you acquainted with him ? 
— He had some business with me in his 
own way. 

Was it In consequence of your pecu- 
niary distresses, that you became ac- 
quainted with A^'illiam Withers .' — No one 

15 



would ever know a man of that descrip- 
tion, but through that very thing. 

Did you ever enter into an agreement 
with William Witiiers, for participation 
in any sums of money which you miglit 
receive ? — Never, nor ever hinted at such 
a thing. 

Do you recollect the first time you ever 
made application to the Duke of York for 
any thing connected with Army Promo- 
tions ? — No, I do not ; it was after I was 
in Gloucester-place. 

Were the applications you had to exert 
your influence with the Duke of York, 
numerous ! — Very. 

Were those applications universally 
attendttd to by you ! — Not always by me ; 
if I thought they were not correct, nor 
proper to recommend, I mentioned it to 
ills Royal Highness, and he told me who 
were proper and who were not, and then 
I could give my answer the next day, as 
from myself, wliether I could listen to 
any thing or not ; if they were improper, 
he told me to say I could not interfere, 
without saying that I had mentioned the 
matter to him. 

Did you vmiformly inform thejDuke of 
York of every application you had re- 
ceived ? — Yes, and hundreds had been re- 
jected but through his means, for I did 
not know who were proper or who were 
not. 

When you have received applications, 
did you entirely trust to your memory, 
or did you record tliem on paper ? — If it 
was a single application, I trusted to 
memory and His Royal Highness, who 
has a very good one ; but if there were 
many, I gave him a paper, not in my own 
writing. 

Gave him what paper ? — Any paper 
that might have been handed to me. 

Do you mean a list of the applications ? 
— I recollect once a list, a very long one, 
but only once. 

Do you recollect how many names 
were upon that list ? — No, I do not. 

Do you recollect when that list was 
existing ! — No, I do not ; but I know that 
must have been a little time beforii 
colonel Tucker, who is lately dead, was 
made Major Tucker ; there were two 
brothers of them. 

For what reason do you know that it 
must have been before colonel Tucker 
was created a Major ? — His Royal Higli- 
ness had promised that he should be in 
the Saturday's Gazette, and one day, 
coming to dinner, a few days before, lie 
told njc 'J'ucktn- had behaved very 111, for 



108 



that Greenwood hud him, and to inquire 
into it, Ibr tliat he had come to phiy 
with me, and perhaps to make a talk ; 
that he was not serious in the business. 
I inquired into it, and found it was so ; 
;ind His Royal Highness said, that Sir 
David Baird had recommended him. 
That was the answer th:it Greenwood 
gave to it. I'ut when I gave His IJoyal 
Tliglmcss that list, that is, when he took 
it, with the number of names upon it, he 
;\sked me what I meant by it ; if I want- 
ed those men promoted ; and if I knew 
any of them or not, and who recommend- 
ed them ? I told him, I did not know any 
one, and that what I meant by it, Iieing 
in his way, was for him to notice them. 
lie said that he would do it ; that there 
were a great number of names, and that 
if I knew any thing at all of military 
business, I must know it was totally im- 
possible for him to do it all at once, but 
that he would do it by degrees ; that ev- 
ery one should be noticed by degrees : 
and among tliose was captain Tucker. 

Is tliat list in existence now ? — No, Ids 
Royal Highness took it away with him 
that morning ; and, from that moment, I 
knew in what way I might h.ive his sanc- 
tion to go on. I saw it some time after 
in his private pocket-book. 

Is that the only list that was ever made 
out by you ? — I did not make it out, 
some one gave it me ; that was the long- 
est list, and the only list that I recollect ; 
I never gave him any other list, I am 
sure. There might have been two names 
down. 

"VVcre you in the habit of making out a 
list to refresh your own memory ? — No ; 
their friends always took care of that. 

Do you mean, that you used to receive 
the names of the applicants in writing ? — 
1 have had letters, hundreds upon hun- 
dreds 

What do you mean by stating, that 
their friends took care of tliat, in your 
last answer but one ? — They ex])ectcd the 
thing should be done immediately, and 
tised to tease me with letters. 

Do you recollect any other names, ex- 
cept that of captain Tucker, in the list 
you have referred to ? — I believe so, but 
I would not mention the name of any 
man who had behaved well to me, on any 
account. His Royal Highness did not 
promote the whole of that list. 

Yoiu* acquaintance with William Wi- 
thers, you have stated, was owing to some 
pecuniary embarrassments of yours : in 
vhat way were those embarrassments sa- 



tisfied ? — I gave him two bills on my 
mother for 3001. each, and that satisfied 
those things ; I never gave him any thing, 
nor spoke to him on any thing relating to 
military business. 

Do you recollect from whom you re- 
ceived tho list you have spoken of ? — I 
think from captain Sandon or Mr. Dono- 
van ; but Mi: Donovan is quite prepared 
to deny it. 

Can you state positively whether you re- 
ceived it from captain Sandon or Mr. Do- 
novan ? — No, 1 cannot, they were connect- 
ed in some way or other together. 

Have any questions been read to you 
by any individual whatever, as such ques- 
tions as would be asked you in this house ? 
— No, never. 

You have mentioned having received 
v'arious sums of money from INIr. Dow- 
ler, and in particular two sums of 2001. 
and 3001 ; state upon what consideration 
those sums were received. — It was for 
Mr. Dowler's Appointment, but previous 
to that he was not to have paid me 
money. 

To what Appointment do you allude ; 
— In the Commissariat ; Assistant Com- 
missary. 

Whom did you apply to for that Ap- 
pointment for Mr. Dowler ? — His Royal 
Hig-hness. 

From whom was it notified to you, that 
that Appointment had been m.ide ? — His 
Royal Highness ; he told me that he had 
spoken to Mr. Charles Long upon it, and 
it was settled at last ; that there had 
been some little difference in the Prince's 
regiment, that Mr. Manby was obliged 
to leave it, and his Royal Highness prom- 
ised to the Prince of Wales to give some- 
thing to Manby, and to seem very civil 
to him, he must gazette him before Mr. 
Dowler ; but before Mr. Dowler proposed 
to give him the money for tl\e situation, 
I fancy he was to have procured some 
votes for the Defence Bill ; I think it was^ 
something like that name ; Mr. Pitt was 
very ill at the time, and I think it was 
something of that sort mentioned ; how- ' 
ever, Mr. Dowler could not bring forward 
the number of voters that I had given the 
list of to the Duke, seventeen I think, 
and there were very few of them came ; 
but I recollect one gentleman, general * 
Clavering, got up, from Scotland, lord 
John Campbell ; and altliough lord Lorn 
would have voted witli Mr. Pitt, and of 
course his brother would hav« gone the 
same way, (but he was not in London) 
still it was considered that it was a great 



109 



favour bringing up Lord John from Scot- 
land ; he was the only man that 1 recol- 
lect, and that was through my means ; I 
had a i'aw more friends besides, but it 
dropped. Mr. Dowler could not bring 
the men forward, some of them were in 
the Opposition. His Uoyal Highness told 
me he gave the list to Mr. Charles Long, 
and he was delighted with it. 

Vou have used an expression relative 
to captain Tucker, that Greenwood had 
him : explain what you meant by that ex- 
pression. — 1 do not know, I never inquir- 
ed further into it ; I was very angry 
th.it tlje man should be only laughing 
with me ; it was his Royal Highness's 
expression, not mine : but 1 am almost 
certain that captain Sandon knows him 
and about it, though perhaps he will not 
own it. 

Were you in tlie habit of shewing to the 
Duke of York the letters which contained 
the applications to you for influence ?— 
Yes^ I was ; but I did not trouble him 
witl) all, not many, upon the same sub- 
ject ; if a man wrote one letter first, I 
migliL show him that, but if he wrote me 
ten more, I might not trouble his Royal 
Highness with those : they frequently 
used to call, and wait for answers while 
his Royal Highness was there, though 
they did not pietend to know he was 
there. 

Then if those letters contained an offer 
of money to you for the exertion of your 
influence, his Royal Highness must have 
been aware of it ? — He was aware of every 
thing tliat I did, jjut I never was very in- 
delicate with him upon those points. 

Did you shew to his Royal Highness 
letters containing suchofl'ers, as well as 
letters that did not contain them ? — Yes, 
I did. 

On the first day of your examination, 
you stated, that a bill of two hurKlred 
pounds, which you received from Mr. 
Knight, was sent from your house to be 
changed by a servant of his Royal High- 
ness : how do you know it was taken by 
a servant of liis Royal Higlmess, and not 
one of yoiir own servants ? — I believe that 
I,<lid not state that Jt was his Royal 
Higlniess'.s servant who took it, but that 
his Royal Highness had something to do 
\vith the clianging tliat note ; and on 
Saturday or Monday morning, I do not 
recollect which it was, when it was rain- 
ing very hard, I believe it was MoiKlay I 
heard where my i)\itler lived, and I went 
into York-place, and sent my footman to 
fetch him out ; he came out, without 



previous knowledge of wlio called upon 
him, and I asked whether he recollected 
any thing particular the evening that his 
Royal Highness was going to W'eymoutli 
and myself in the morning to Worthing ; 
he asked me to wliat point, I said abotit 
a bank note ; he said, perfectly well ; he 
had been trying all over the neighbour- 
hood to get change for a note, that it was 
a very large noic, he supposed, a 501.. 
note, that he came into the parlour andf 
said he could not get change for it, and< 
then his Royal Highness said, '* Do go 
to my wine-merchant's, in Bond-street, 
Stephen's hotel, and get change, anvlj 
tell them where you come from ;" that( 
on this same night he had called at By- 
field's, the confectioner's, and tried there, 
and they could not do it ; :uid that he 
went and saw Stephens' partner j it be- 
ing very late Stephens was not there, that 
he got change for it there, and that was^. 
tlie whole. Rut I told him he must comet 
and speak about it, that a summon;; 
would be sent to him, and woid<.l it hurt 
him with respect to his master and mi^T* 
tress, his being cxaiujned ; and iie.tolclj 
me they would not be angry, he ri,i,Bt 
posed, for it was Lady \\'inlertoi»'s sort^ 
he lived with, and he supposed Ladyj 
Winterton would not be against it. J» 
spoke to him the other night in t^ie yoo^n*,- 
1 do not know wliether before ho Wivs 
examined or afterwards, and he told me 
that he had called at Stephens' in liuiid-, 
street, and tliat tliey would not g-ivehiin, 
any information a])out the note, which I 
believe he did not state to the ho\ise. 

[The witness was dheclcd to with- 
drau". -J 

T 
£The witness was again catUed JnJ 

You iiave stated, that you recom- 
mended Mr. Dowler to lusjRoyal High- 
ness tjlie Duke of York ; in what clia-i 
ractej: did you represent him to the Dukf) 
of Yfirk I — As a gentleman. . •, .. 

Did you re]n-escJit him as a ftienj] ^ 
relation of your owaiF—TNevqr.ftfrvJV Wi*i 
tion, as a friend. < 1. jt 

In recqnmicnding Jiim to tlie Duke of 
York, did you mention that you were tM 
have any, and what sum, in c;isehe w.a* 
appointed t;o the Commissariat ?-— Hi.-) 
Royal Highness knew tliat I was to have. 
a sum, for 1 told him .tU$t,iOld Mr. 
Dowler had come uj) to sell, it oMt of the 
funds. ■ ; i , ■ . 1 

Did you communicate. At t|ie time, to 
the Duke of York, that jiou,wcre to re- 
ceive iiny, and what sum r-rt-J^ canaot ex- 



no 



actly say to that ; but I tokl his Royal 
Highness that he would beliave more li- 
berally to me than any other person for 
the same appointment. 

Are you quite sure of that ? — Quite. 

Did you ever hear Mr. Dowler say 
that he was acquainted with vSir Brook 
AVatson, the commissary general ? — No 
further than that he knew him personally 
or in the city ; and I told his Royal 
Highness of it, that Mr. Dowler knew a 
little of Sir Brook Watson, and he said, 
that is a very good thing; but I believe 
Sir Brook Watson is dead ; and I cannot 
make use of the expression that his Royal 
Highness then did about him. 

Are you quite sure that Mr. Dowler 
did not represent to you, that he or his 
father had some interest with Sir Brook 
Watson? — No, he never told me that he 
had particidarly ; he told me that Sir 
Brook Watson did not like him, for his 
fatlier's way of voting, if I recollect right ; 
I mean the city voting. 

Did you ever receive a list of names 
for promotion from any other person than 
captain Huxley Saiulon and Mr. Dono- 
van ? — I never received such a long list 
from any one, nor such a list ; I never 
received more than two or three names ; 
this I had for two or three days ; it was 
pinned up at the head of my bed, and 
his Royal Highness took it down. 

If you received any list containing two 
or three names, from whom did you re- 
ceive such list ? — It will be seen, by the 
witnesses that have already been ex- 
amined, that there were a great many 
sorts of agents or people that used to 
come and ask me things about them, and 
I cannot recollect ; and I believe I got 
into very bad hands, or I would never 
have been exposed as it is now. 

Cannot you recollect the name of any 
one person Who gave you a list ?— JI have 
mentioned the name of colonel 'S'ahdon 
and Mr Donovan ; and there was a lady 
■with Mr. Donovan the other night, in the 
room, which brought many things to my 
recollection, perhaps she can speak to 
something ; she is an officer's widow, 
And, I believe, quite in the habit of mili- 
tary intrigue. 

Did you ever circulate a list of prices 
of commissions ? — No, I never did ; that 
did not belong to me, I never did it ; I 
have seen such a thing, I saw it in Gob- 
bet, but it is not true. 

What is the name of the lady you have 
just mentioned, the officer's widow ? — 
She was with Mr. Donovan the other 



night I used to see her very frequently ; 
I have not seen her these three years ; 1 
do not recollect her name at present, I 
shall think of it presently, she is an Irish 
lady. I have received a letter this in- 
stant, which has exceedingly interested 
me, begging* me that I would not go on, 
or to that effect ; but I would wish the 
gentlemen here to ask colonel Mac Ma- 
lion, that my character may not appear 
so very black as it does at present ; I 
would wish the house to inquire of colo- 
nel Mac Mahbn, if he thought I made 
any improper projiositions, or any thing 
unjust, to ' the Duke of York. I wish 
them to ask only of colonel Mac Mahon, 
what were my propositions to the Duke 
of York, and to inquire into all the par- 
ticulars I'especting the message of which 
he was the bearer : I am exceedingly 
sorry to expose him so. 

Have you any objection to deliver in 
the letter you have received ? — 1 have re- 
ceived one before ; I will perhaps in a 
few days, but not to night ; 1 have hard- 
ly read it over. 

[The chairman informed the witness, 
that it was the pleasure of the cohi- 
mittee that she siiould produce the 
letter she had just received.] 

Wlien did you receive that lrtte>*4 
where did you receive it, and from whom? 
— I received it at this door. 

On the outside of the door ? — This 'in- 
stant, when I went out. 

From whom ? — I belie\e one of the 
messengers. 
• The witness delivered in the letter, 
and it wis read.] 

" Westminster -hall, Thursday night, 
eight o'clock. 
" Madam, 

"1 am most anxiously dtesirous 
*' to see ydii to night. '' 

" The lateness of the hour will be 
"no difficulty with me : 

" It is I trust quite unnecessary 
" to observe, that business alone is 
" my reason for expressine* by this 
" solicitude in so earnest a way -, or 
"that if you think a more uj)Te- 
" served commvmication might taiie 
"place at Westbourne-place, I woulft 
" be there at your own hour to- 
" night. 

" To what this particularly refers 
" j'ou may have some guess, but \i 
" would be highly improper to glance 
" at it upon paper. 

" I will deliver this to one of the 



Ill 



"Mcssrngevs, wlio will convey to 
" me your itiiswer ; or if your f'cel- 
" ings at all accord with mine, you 
" will not perhaps think it too much 
'• trouble to wrU^two notes, one to 
" the care of the iVIesseng-er who 
" delivers this, the other addressed 
" for ine at the Exchequer CofFee- 

•' House, Westminster-Hall. Be- 

" licve me, 

" Madam, 
- " Most sincerely vour Friend, 
" iVm. miliams." 

" P. S. I have tried two or thfed 
" Members to deliver this, but they 
" are afraid some injurious suspicion 
" mit^iit attach. 

" I hope you will not attribute 
" my hasty manne;^ to negligence or* 
•' disrespect." 

Is this the letter that so much inter- 
ested you '. — Yes, it is. 

Is tiiis the letter that desired you not 
to go on ? — In my opinion it is, from what 
occurred yesterday. 

What do you allude to a:^ having' oc- 
curred yesterday ?-^A letter came to me 
vestcrday from the same Gentleman, and 
I coidd not exactly make out what it was, 
or what he meant by it ; he said he had 
seen me at the play one night, in com- 
paHy with lord Lenox and Sir Robert 
Peate, about two months since, and that 
he took the liberty of addressing a letter 
to me to grant him an interview ; I sent 
down my servant to say I was at home to 
him ; this was the Gentleman whom I 
Kllude(4 to as being the only one 1 had 
seen since I quitted this place. When he 
came into the drawing-room yesterday, 
he asked me whether there was any one 
in the back room ; I said upon my word 
and honour not ; but I told him as my 
character now seemed so much hacked 
about with every one, 1 would open the 
door and convince him, which I did ; he 
then began to question me how I felt to- 
wards the Duke of York, if I had any re- 
venge, or if 1 had any wishes that his 
Royal Highness had not satisfied, and if 
any thing would induce me now to aban- 
don the country with my children, and 
take all the blame on my own shoulder ; 
that no sum whatever would be backward 
if 1 would aay that I would, as my char- 
acter now had been so very much with the 
public, it could not be worse if I would 
take it upon myself and abandon my coun- 
try with my children, and I should be pro- 



vided for for life in the handsomest man- 
ner possible ; that he had no authority 
from the Duke of York, but it was th^ 
Duke's friends. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 
[The chairman wa^ directed to report 
progress, and ask \ci\\'p to sit ag'ain. 
After a short tiiiy;' th6 coitimilUe 
was again resumed.] 

Jlr. WILLIAM WILLIAMS was brougl>t 
in, in the Custody of thfe giei:jt*ant 

at Arms. :. : ■ • 

Is that yOur hanil -writing ? — This is My 
hand-writing, and I d'jlivc ^ed that Letter 
mVself to the dOor-keefifer. •. ; 

Will you inform the Oomiintit'tee who 
and what 30U arc ?— I am a clergyman. 

Where do you live ? — -\m I bound to 
answer that question. 

[The chairman informed the witness 
he nuist answer the; question.] . 

I have some personal reasons for not 
doing so ; reasons applicable to mc pci-- 
sonally, to my private afi'airs. 

['I'he chairman informed the witness 
he vvas bound to answer the c(ues. 
tion.] ' 

Mv place of residence is now atNo. 17, 
Somcrs Place East, in the New Road, 
near Somer,^ Town. 

You have seen this Letter which you 
delivered to the dtxn- -keeper ; of course 
\ou arc acquainted with tlie contents of 
It ? — I suppose the letter in jour hand to 
be the same which was p\it into my hand 
jlist now ; I am acquainted w'ith it, ha\- 
ing written it within this hour. 

What was the business on which yoti 
\vished to see Mis. Clarke ? — 1 had busi- 
ness with her ; I am sure I do not know 
how decorously to answer tliis question, 
but it has no reference to the examina- 
tion now going on before this house. 

Were you at Mrs. Clarke's house yej,- 
terday .'—Not yesterday, the day Ia;- 
fore. • ■ 1 

■ What passed upon tbai^ 6ccnsiQn 1— — 
The whole is not exactly' iri 'my recpflcc- 
tion,; 1 believe 1 was near an' hour 
there. ' , 

State as much as you can of wliat pass- 
ed upon that occasion. •! am taken 

somewhat by surprise, but 1 will', p.^ 
nearly as I can recollect ; it had some 
general reference to the transaction \hu'. 
is now investigating before this hou.se. 

State the sub.stance of it.— She askc J. 
me if I had seen the Newspaper ; I re- 
plied in the negative ; she then related 
to me part of what I have sjncc seen iu 



112 



tlie Xewbpapcrs, tliat she was fhtipiied 
•ttter many hours waiting here ; I believe 
that was the substance of what she re- 
lated. 

Are you certain that it was the day 
before yesterday you had this communi- 
cation ?— It was the mornin.^ after she 
\yas examined here ; if I answer tlie ques- 
tion conftiscdly, I hope you will not be 
surprised at it, for I am a'little surprised 
at finding' myself here ; this is the sub- 
stance as far as related to any thing else 
1 hat had reference to our acquaintiuice : 
1 mentioned some persons that we were 
acquainted with, and as their health, and 
matters, not. I think, worth relating to 
the house; if you wish I will refresh my 
memory, and state the minutirc. 
, Did you state any thing to Mrs. Cliu-ke 
as to the course of the examination here- 
after to be pursued upon this business ? 
— I do not recollect that I did. 

Did you give Mrs. Clarke any advice 
as to what she had best do upon "this sub- 
ject ?— I spoke I believe something to 
Uiis eftcct, that it would be well and pro- 
per for her to be cautious. 

Was that all ?~I believe I added, what 
every body is aware of, the higli con- 
nexions of the Personage whose conduct 
is now under your investigation, and that 
of course I reiterated what I Iiad said be- 
fore, that caution, I thought, would very 
much become her. 

Did you advise Mrs. Clarke to get out 
of the way ?— I never did. 

You ai-e quite certain that vou did not 
give her any advice of tliat sort ?— I did 
not. 

Did you represent, that vou came from 
any of the friends of the Duke of York ? 
-—I did not, I spoke ;imbiguously, but I 
did not give her any such intimation 
whatever. 

What do you mean by saving you 
spoke ambiguously ?— I spoke tlie senti- 
ments of my own mind and mv own co- 
gitations upon that subject, not having 
any intimation from anyindividual in the 
world. 

For what purpose did vou go to Mrs. 
Chirke upon th.it day ?—l' suppose I mav 
be allowed to pause a moment or two 
before I answer tliat question, because it 
mvolves a variety of circumstances that 
now press upon my mind. 

[The witness paused for some time.] 

Among otlier tilings, I thought that tlie 

confidential intercourse that" must have 

passed between her and the person whose 

name perhaps I am not at liberty to men- 



tion, might have given her opportunities 
of observing upon his conduct in mo- 
ments of unreserved communication, and 
that to introduce matters of that sort be- 
fore this house would e.xcite certainly 
his personal resentment as well as the 
indignation of his family, juid that what- 
ever promises might be hold out to her 
would probably not in the event be found 
sufficient to protect her from the resent- 
ment that they probably might conceive 
it was right at some tinie to exercise up- 
on her : I suppose I have said enough to 
convey to the house my sentiments ; and 
to expect of me minutely to detjiil all that 
passed in that conversation, would be, I 
think, an unreasonable expectation. 

Did you advise Mrs. Claikc to go out 
of the kingdom witli her children ? — I 
did not. 

And that they should be provided for ; 

did you make any promise to her ? I 

made no promise to her whatever. 

Did any body advise you to go to Mr.s, 
Clarke ?— It was a suggestion of my own 
mind. 

Had you been acquainted with Mrs. 
Clarke before ? — Very little. 

How long- had you been acquainted 
with her ? — Precisely I cannot sayj per- 
haps two months. 

Where had you seen her before ? — At 
the ojjcra liouse. 

Had you seen her any where ebe but 
at the opera Jiouse ■ — No. 

Had \ou any conversation with her at 
(he opera house ? — No. 

AVere you introduced to her there ? 

I might be said to be introduced ; it was 
rather casu.il ; it w.as in the presence of 
persons known to us both. 

How long ago was tliis ?— About two 
months ago. 

Who were the persons present ?— Lord 
Lennox and sir Robeat Peate. I beg leave 
to add, that I had not been directjed or 
instructed, or requested to address Mi-s. 
Clarke, on this or any other subject, by 
any person whatever ; and after mention- 
ing tbe names of tliose two gentlemen, I 
think it very hard they should be impli- 
c.ated in this which hAS taken me by sur- 
prise. 

What led you to come here this afl!cr- 
noon ? — I was extremely anxious to see 
Mrs. Clarke. 

For wh.it purpose ? — If I am positively 
bound to ajiswer that question at the pe- 
ril of imprisonment, of course it must bo 
answered; to whom am I to address ray- 
self for an answer to that question. 



ii: 



[The Chairman hiformeil the Wit- 
ness, that it \v;is the pU-iisui-e of 
the Committee that the question 
should be ans\vpred.] 

My reason was, tar attempt, if I could, 
to persuade her from that ironical, sar- 
castic, and witty animadversion that 
sometimes had fallen from her, with re- 
ference to the person that I before allud- 
ed to. 

Was that the object with which you 
wrote this letter ? — That was one of the 
objects. 

>Vhftt other object had you ? — I will 
answer particularly afterwards ; f^enc- 
rally, I will say it was with a view that 
was by no means adverse to the person 
whose conduct is now under in\ estima- 
tion, but j ust on the contrary ; and there- 
fore I am the more surprised at the harsh 
mauner in which 1 have been treated. 

State what your other object was in 
writing this letter to Mrs. Clarke ? — I 
tliought that if I had an ojiportanity of 
seeing her before the appointment that I 
had to-morrow morning witli an au,ent of 
his Royal Highness, that probably I might 
suggest to her something' to prevent 
those things that did not serve to eluci- 
date the investigation now going on, but 
to excite tlie inveteracy of those person- 
ages to whom I before alluded. 

Who is that agent ? — Mr. Lowten. 

Who made the appointment with you ? 
—By agreement, I addressed Mr. Low- 
ten first, and afterwai'ds the appointment 
was made. 

For what purpose did you address Mr. 
Lowten ? — For tlie purpose I have given 
to the house before. 

Did you apply to Mr. I-owten by writ- 
ing, or address him verbally ? — I liud 
spoken to two or three members of tliis 
house upon this subject. 

Nan\e them. — Mr Adam and Colonel 
Gordon ; the otlier waved it entirolv, I 
am unwilling to mention him ; it is Col. 
McMahon, if I am desired to mention 
him. 

Did you.apply to Mr. Lowten person- 
ally or by letter ? — I was desired by two 
of the gentlemen whom 1 have named ; 
colonel McMahon conceived of this very 
differently from what many members of 
this house do : they thanked me Ibr the 
communication ; lie does not conceive of 
any hostility to his Royal Highness in 
the communication, but just the con- 
trary. If there is any thing culpable in 
my conduct, I am amenable to the cen- 
sure of tlie house, am willing to abide by 



it ; ])ut I do not know that gentlemen 
act decorously to me, in making me the 
subject of personal merriment and ridi- 
cule. 

Was it by persotVal address or by writ- 
ing you made the appointment with I\lr. 
l.rt>wten ? — I hesitated whether I should 
speak to Mr. Lowten or not, and when I 
spoke to Mr. Adam I declined it ; but 
coming here with this letter, I met Mr. 
I.iOwten, within these two hours, and then 
I addressed liini. 

What did you say to Mr. Lowten ? — I 
knew Mr. Lowten officially, and no ot]\er- 
wise ; I understand that he holds an 
oilicc, indeed I have seen him in tlie ex- 
ercise of his oflice in the Court of King's 
Bench. 

What did yon say to liim ? — I told him 
that I had spoken to the gentlemen (I be- 
lieve that was pretty near the commence- 
ment of my conversation with him) whom 
I have recently named, Mr. Adam and 
colonel Cordon ; and I told him also that, 
they declined, and seemed apprehensive ; 
they seemed to think there was a delica- 
cy and difficulty in it, which inclinctl 
them to have nothing to do with it; they 
advised me to communicate to him, and 
wlien I met liim I took the liberty to ad- 
dress myself to him. 

Did you tell Mr. Lowten the nature of 
the subject wliicii you had to comnumi- 
cate to him ? — 1 said (I did think 1 eX; 
prcssly guarded what I had to say with 
this observation) that I had no message 
from Mrs. Clarke, or any communication 
directly or uidirectly, to make from 
her. 

What did )'ou say you had to commu- 
nicate to Mr. liowten ? — I said I thought, 
as matter of opinion arising out of my 
own mind, that it was possible, I do not 
know how I expressed it, but I meant t« 
convey to prevent her going into that ir- 
relevant matter, and 1 believe the obser- 
vation I made was this, that it was impos- 
sil)le for any man in an unreserved com- 
mimication of four years, not in some 
period of tliat length of time to have said 
and done those tilings which the House 
of Commons had very little to do with. 

Was it upon that communication to 
Mr. Lowten, that he made an a])point- 
mcnt with you to come to him to-morrow 
tnornlng ? — I recollect no other. 

What did you tell Mr. Lowten you liad 
to say to him on the subject on which you 
were to speak to him to-morrow morn- 
ing ? I have told you this moment thai 
vrtiB the subject I had to speak upon. 



114 



To: prevent Mi's. Clai'ke going" into 
irrelevant matter ? — Qertainly, tliat was 
the main obje,ct. 

How were you to prevent it by goinjf 
to Mr. Lowten ?-^-^Cer<*inly this is a ques- 
tion I am not prepaa-ed exactly to answer j 
J am not sui'e that I could prevent it at 
all, and the means must arise out of the 
circumstances. 

What did you mean to propose to Mr. 
Lowten as the means by wliich Airs. 
Clarke's examination might be in any de- 
gree aliered ?— I am sure I do not know 
exactly what I should have said to Mr. 
Lowten to-morrow morning, but what I 
should have said to him would have aris- 
en out of the circumstsnces, and probably 
out of the communication I should have 
had with Mrs. Clarke to-night; and it 
was for that purpose that I expressed so 
anxious a wish to see her, as I conveyed 
in that letter that is laid upon tlie table. 

What did you expect would arise be- 
tween Mrs. Clarke and yourself to-night, 
which you expected would enable you to 
make a communication with effect to Mr. 
Lowten lo-morrow ? — I do not know whe- 
ther I may iiot be allowed to go a little 
into explanation, and not to answer sen- 
tentiously and immediately, but in an 
intercourse and friendship of four years 
much might have passed that it would be 
proper to suppress. 

What did jou expect would arise be- 
tween Mrs. Clarke and yourself to-night, 
which you expected would enable you to 
make a communication with effect to Mr. 
T^owten to-morrow ? — If it is intended by 
these questions that I should It is im- 
possible, I do not know how to answer 
the question, I have not the capacity, I 
do not understand it. 

Wh.at did you expect would arise be- 
tween Mrs. Clarke and yourself to-night, 
which you expected would enable you to 
make a communication with effect to Mr. 
Lowten to-morrow ? — I confess, standing 
here as I do, that if an enquiry of this 
sort was going on upon my own subject, 
there are many things already which 
have transpired which I should be sorry 
should transpire, and which have nothing 
to do with a political question ; that is 
the only way I can answer it. 

How was it to effect the commu- 
nication with Mr. Lowten to-morrow, 
in consequence of your seeing Mrs. 
Clarke to-night I — I did not certainly in- 
tend to interfere, or to prevent the in- 
'"quiry, or to smother the inquiry, or to 
advise her to suppress any information 
that has refevciice to the investigation 



going on before the house ; but I did 
tliink, that if I could persuade her to 
avoid those sort of witticisms to which 
I alluded before,and those sort of observa- 
tion? >If the gentlemen wish me to 

answer this question in such a way as to 
prove I have beenguilty of a breach of the 
privilege of this house, I cannot do that ; 
I know the deference due to this house, 
and am willing to treat it with proper 
deference. May 1 take the liberty to 
make one more observation on the law of 
evidence ? 

[T|ie chairman informed the witness 
that he was not called to the bar to 
make observations, but to give evi- 
dence.] ^ 

Then may I take the liberty of asking, 
whether I am bound to give that sort of 
evidence that would criminate myself, 
and is this not leading to it. 

Had you written the letter at the time 
you saw Mr. Lowten ? — No, I wrote the 
letter subsequently ; it arose out of the 
conversation I had with him. As a mat- 
ter of humanity I address myself to the 
chair with reference to tlie chancellor 
of the exchequer, whether, as a lawyer, 
taken by surprise as I am, it is right to 
propose questions to me, that if tliey 
were answered would criminate me. 

Do you refuse to answer these ques- 
tions which are put to you, under the fear 
they will criminate yourself? — No, I 
do not upon my honour. 

[The w itness was taken fi-om the bar.] 

WILLIAM ADAM, Esq. attending in 
his place, made the following state- 
ment. 
Many persons have desired to see me, 
since the commencement of this business, 
who have not sent any name ; and 1 have 
given orders, to let nobody in, who did 
not send in tlieirnames. This gentleman 
called yesterday about five o'clock I 
think or a little after five : he sent in no 
name, but a geutleman wished to see me. 
I desired to have the name, and I thought 
the name given in, was Williamson ; I 
had seen a gentleman of the name of 
Williamson in the morning, a clergy- 
man of Sherford, in Bedfordshire, and I 
believed it to be the same person ; I 
went into the hall to him, to the outer 
door ; 1 found it to be a different person ; 
and this gentleman who has just been 
at the bar, addressed me, and said he 
had something to communicate, respect- 
ing this business that was proceeding in 
Parliament ; I said I could hear nothing 
from him ; he seemed extremely anxious 



115 



to state somethings ; I stopped him, and 
told him if he had any facts or circum- 
stances to state, Mr. Lowten was em- 
ployed as his Royal Highness's solicitor, 
and he might go to lAn, and desire an 
appointment ; he left the house ; and 
that was all tliat passed- 

JOHN M'MAHON, Esq. a member of 
the house, attending in his place, 
made the following statement. 
To my extreme astonishment, I found 
my name alluded to by the lady who has 
just been examined attlie bar; I cannot 
tell for what possible purpose she has al- 
luded to me ; I have nothing to offer to 
this committee, that has the least rele- 
vance, or can throw the smallest light 
upon any subject whatever, that the ho- 
nourable gentleman has brought before 
the consideration of this house. Incon- 
sequence of an anonymous note that was 
written to his Royal Highness the Prince 
of Wales, promising very important com- 
munications, I did, at the command of 
the Prince, lightly as he treated the note, 
nevertheless call at No. 14, Bedford-row 
Russell-square, where the note was dated 
from. Upon going there, the woman 
who opened the door, and from whom I 
thought I saw much that told me she had 
put that note into the penny-post or the 
two-penny post herself, I asked her the 
name of the lady of the house, that I 
wanted to see ; she desired me to tell my 
name ; I told her I could give her no 
name, but produced the note, which she 
immediately remembered to have put into 
the two penny-post, and said it was writ- 
ten by her mistress. I was then con- 
ducted into the house, into a parlour, 
where cci'tainly there were a great many 
of those morocco concerns, which she 
has mentioned before, for there were ten 
chairs I tliink set round the table, from 
the supper or the dinner of the day be- 
fore ; after remaining some time, I was 
conducted up stairs, where I saw the lady 
whose name I was told to be Farquhar. 
The lady in perfect good humour came 
out and received me ; and I held the note 
I was possessed with, as my credentials, 
for hercommunicating whatever shemight 
think fit to tell a third person, not pressing 
her to any communication whicli she 
ought not to give me. She told me, 
that she would communicate nothing to a 
third person ; I then told her that it was 
impossible that I could hold up any ex- 
pectation of an interview with such a per- 
son as the one to whom that letter was 

16 



addressed, unless she gave nic some clue 
or some plausible pretence for it, and that 
I had no idle curiosity to gratify. She then 
entered into a conversation of so general 
and so extraordinary a nature, that I am 
confident this house would not for one 
moment entertain it, because the tendency 
.ind intention of it v/as to make bail 
blood between two illustrious brothers, 
whose affections could never be shaken 
by any such repres .itation, at least, I am 
confident "tliat the illustrious Person I 
have the pride and glory to serve and love 
would be incapable. She then told me 
she would shew me letters to prove and 
to establish, that there was a hatred on 
one part to the other ; I declined seeing 
any letters ; she then said, I would com- 
mit those letters to you, for the perusal 
of the illustrious Personage ; to which I 
as my bounden duty and firm conviction, 
said, if they were lying at his feet, he 
would scorn to look at one of them. In 
tl\ls interview, at first, I stated that I 
thought she was a friend of Mrs. Clarke ; 
slie said, certainly she knew Mrs. Clarke 
extremely intimately, that there was no- 
body she loved and regarded as she did 
Mrs. Clarke ; that she perfectly knew 
her. She then asked me if 1 knew Mrs. 
Clarke ; I said I do not. " Do you know 
her. Sir, by person ;" I said, I believed 
not. " Do you know her by character ;" 
Yes, said I, her fame is very celebrated ; 
and 1 have heard of Mrs. Clarke, but 
know nothing of her myself. She asked 
me then what I knew ; I said, it cer- 
tainly was not to her advantage ; but I 
had heard the Duke of York had been 
very generous to her, and that she had 
not been very grateful on her part ; but 
that was only from information I had re- 
ceived. She then proceeded to state, 
what I throw myself on tlie considera- 
tion of the house, as it might be the 
effect of passion, and appeared to me a 
disposition to gi-atify her reveng-e by re- 
presentations that I do not think the 
House would for a moment permit me to 
expose, when it went to a tendency to 
make bad blood between two Brothers. 
We then proceeded. I soon after said, 
" I am speaking to Mrs. Clarke herself:" 
I thought so, from several things she 
told me, that I wish not to repeat : I 
said, " I am confident I am address- 
ing to myself to Mrs. Claj-ke herself :" 
She laughed, and said, " I am Mrs. 
Clarke." I then begged her a thousand 
pardons for the portrait I had drawn but 
disclaimed being the painter. " I am 



116 



sure you are not, for it was Adam and 
Greenwood that jjave you my character." 
We then proceeded, till she made a state- 
ment, that I have no hesitation in de- 
claring- to this committee did, in its 
statement, appear such as I could with 
honour and character entertain and listen 
to ; that, under every compassionate feel- 
ing- and sentiment, I felt no indisposition 
to listen to and entertiyn. She stated to 
me, that Mr. Adam hi.1 called upon hei", 
and in a very firm, but steady manner, 
told her, that the Duke of York was de- 
termined to separate from lier ; but that 
if she retired into the countr)', and con- 
d\icted herself with propriety and deco- 
rum, he would allow her 4001. a year ; 
that she had according-ly so retired into 
Devonshire for several months, but fail- 
ing to receive the remittances she ex- 
pected, she had been driven to town for 
the purpose of gaining- her arrear, and 
placing her annuity upon a more regular 
mode of payment ; that if that condition 
was complied with, by the payment of 
her arrear, and of securing the punctu- 
ality of it to her in future, his Royal 
Highness should never hear any more 
about her. Upon the fairness of this 
statement, supposing it to be true, (I do 
not pretend to say what my opinion of 
it was) I said, if your statement, Mrs. 
Clarke, is correct and orthodox, I will 
certainly wait upon Mr. Adam, and state 
it to him, to know where the objection 
lies to the payment of your annuity. That 
was in the month of July last. Mr. 
Adam had gone, two days after 1 saw 
Mrs. Clarke, ijUo Scotland, and had not 
returned when I came back to London in 
October, therefore I never saw liim, but 
at the persuasion of Mrs. Clarke, by a 
letter she wrote to me, she saying that 
his Royal Highness was prepared to hear 
what I had to say, as she had told it to 
him. I had the honour of waiting upon 
the Duke of York, and telling his Royal 
Highness exactly what she had stated, 
not pretending to vouch for its veracity 
in any shape whatever. His Royal High- 
ness's immediate and prompt answer to 
me was, her conduct is so abominable, 
that I will heiir nothing at all about her. 
Any thing I could possibly offer after 
what I have now said would be superflu- 
ous ; there is the conclusion, that is the 
epilogue of any thing I have to state ; and 
as to any question thought proper by the 
honourable gentleman, or any circum- 
stances he has cited or remarked upon, I 
am as ignorant as a man vmborn. — With 



regard to the gentleman who has this 
moment been at your bar, 1 did receive 
a letter fiom him last night, which I have 
in my pocket, and will deliver, if it is the 
pleasure of the house, to which I certain-* 
ly wrote him a civil answer : I said I was 
obliged to him for his attention, but that 
I had no interference in the question be- 
fore the house, and that I never would 
directly nor indirectly have any interfer- 
ence with it. 

[Colonel McMahon <lelivei'ed in the 
letter, and it was read.] 

" Sir, 
" I have this moment left Mrs. 
" Clarke, and I think there are parts 
" of the conversation I have had 
*' witli her, any confidential friend 
" of the Duke of York's would be 
" solicitous to know. 

" If you are of that number, you 
" perhaps would choose to see me ; 
*' or, if not, refer me to some one 
" immediately you think would. 

" I hope you will not attribute the 
" hasty manner of this confused ad- 
" dress intentional want of decorum, 
" for, on the contrary, with the sin- 
" cercst sentiments of gratitude, and 
" very great respect, 

" I am, Sir, 
" Your most obliged, 

" humble and obedient Servant, 

" IVm. Ji'iiliams." 
" Richold's Hotel, near 4 o'clock, 
Wednesday." 
" I undei'stood you was going to 
" ride ; I have therefore directed the 
" Porter, if possible to find you." 
" Col. McMahon." 

Colonel GORDON was called in, and ex- 
amined by the committee, as follows : 

Have you seen a man of the name of 
Williams ? — I have. 

Did he say any thing to you upon the 
subject of this Inquiry ? — I will state to 
the house exactly what he did say : 
About four o'clock this evening I was at 
the Chancellor of the Exchequer's on bu- 
siness, and on withdrawing, a servant of 
Mr. Perceval's told me that a gentleman 
was in such a room, and desired to sec 
me. I was shewn into the room, and J 
there saw a person whom to my recol- 
lection I never saw before. He addres- 
sed me as follows : " Never having had 
the honour. Sir, of being introduced to 
colonel Gordon, I am not certain that I 
am now speaking to him ; are you colonel 



iir 



Cordon !" I said, Sir, that is my name. 
He had said, Sir, I liave been desirous of 
makin}^ a confidential communication to 
the Duke of York upqji the business now 
before the house, and to that purpose I 
addressed a letter to colonel McMahon 
yesterday. Colonel McMahon wrote me 
an answer (I think he said a civil answer) 
declining' any interference whatever. I 
have addressed myself this mornin,^ to 
Mr. Adam, and he declined it also. Now, 
Sir, if jTJU are of the same way of tlunk- 
iug as those {gentlemen, it is needless for 
me to enter upon the business. I said I 
am entirely of that way of thinking, Sir. 
He said, my object is to make a commu- 
nication to the Duke of York, of a con- 
versation I had with Mrs. Clarke (I think 
he said day before yesterday or yester- 
day, I will not be quite certain about that) 
and I think it very desirable that the ex- 
amination which she is to undergo this 
evening should be suppressed. I told him 
that I declined making any communica- 
tion whatever, and that I was not in the 
habit of making any confidential commu- 
nication to the Duke of York, but what 
arose out of my official situation, and my 
words were these : I recommend you, 
Sir, to go to Mr. Lowten, he will advise 
you, and advise you well. I then with- 
drew, for the purpose of going out of the 
room, and it occurred to me I might as 
well ask liim his name, and I addressed 
him in these words : Pray, Sir, do me the 
favour to give me your name. He hesi- 
tated at that, and told me he had told it 
to Mr. Adam. I repeated the question, 
I beg. Sir, to ask your name ; he said. 
Sir, my name then is Williams. I think 
I am correct in wiiat I say. He walked 
out of the room, and 1 thought it neces- 
sary to call Mr. Perceval, and told him 
■word for word what I have now had the 
lionour of repeating to the house. 
fThe witness was directed to withdraw. 

The Right Hon"" CHARLES LONG, 

a Member of the House, attending 
in his place, made the following 
Statement : 
I have been very anxious to say a' word 
to the committee, in consequence of the 
manner in wliich my name has been 
mentioned by Mrs. Clai-ke, and have 
only been pi-eventcd doing so, in conse- 
quence of the interruption that has taken 
place in her examination. She stated 
that his Royal Highness the Duke of 
York had mentioned to her, that he liad 
mentioned Mr. Uowler's name to mc ibr 



an appointment in the commissariat, and 
that in consequence of that 1 had said it 
should be settled Immediately. Upon 
that I have to state, that to the best of 
my recollection his Royal Highness never 
mentioned the name of Mr. Dowler to 
me upon any occasion whatever, nor do 
I recollect having heard his name, until 
I saw that gentleman at the bar of this 
house. The otlrer point upon which my 
name was also alluded to, it is hardly ne- 
cessary, perhaps, I should explain ; but 1 
have only to say upon that, that Mrs. 
Clarke has stated that his Royal ."'igh- 
ness had also said tliat he had siiewn a 
list of seventeen members of this house 
who would vote with Mr. Pitt in case this 
appointment took place, and that I was 
very mucli delighted with the list : if I 
had seen any sucli list, I dare say I should 
have been very much delighted with it, 
as it was represented that a number of 
gentlemen of that side of the house were 
likely to have voted upon that question 
with those with wliom 1 generallj- act ; 
but I have only to say, that ncitlier upon 
that occasion, as connected with the aj)- 
pointment of Mr. Dowler, nor any other, 
did his Royal Highness ever sliew me any 
such list. 

In the year 1805, were any appoint- 
ments made to the commissariat tlirough 
you by his Royal Hig-hness's recommen- 
dation ?— — I remember particularly the 
recommendation of the Duke of York 
being made through me to Mr. Pitt, for 
the appointment of Mr. Manby to tlie 
commissariat early in the year 1805 ; his 
Royal Highness the Duke of York men- 
tioned to me, that great disputes pre- 
vailed amongst several of the officers of 
the 10th regiment of the light dragoons, 
and that the paymaster, Mv. Manby, was 
very much involved in tliose disputes, he 
thought; that all the officers, 1 think lie 
said, were a good deal to blame, as well 
as I recollect, and that he was quite sure 
that the animosity that subsisted would 
never be done away while Mr. Manby re- 
mained paymaster of that regiment ; ho 
said, that he did not think that any thing^ 
that had come to his knowledg'c im- 
peaclied the integrity of Mr. Manb}-, but 
that he wished him to be rcmo\ed to 
some other situation to wliich his talents 
\\cre adapted. About the same period, 
an honourable member of this house, 
one of tlie members for the county of 
S/rrej-, who repi-cscntcd himself, 1 think, 
as a relation of Mr. Manby's, stated also 
his anxiou!? wish to me, that so^ne ap 



118 



pointmcnt mighl be found for .AFf. Man- 
by, and th.at lie should quit the regi- 
ment. I mentioned as I was desired, to 
Mr. Pitt, both what had been stated by 
his Royal Highness the Duke of York, 
and what had been stated also by the 
honourable member to whom I have al- 
luded, Mr. Sumner; and, in consequence 
of that, he w as appointed an Assistant 
Commissary. • 

Did you, about tliat time, receive any 
other recommendation of the Duke of 
York's for the Commissariat department ? 
— NoH;i whatever, that I recollect. 

airs. aiATlY ANN CLARKE was called 
in again, and examined by the com- 
mittee, as follows : 

"What first gave you the idea that it 
was possible to procure money by dispo- 
sal of commissions in the army ? — By 
persons applying to me ; and I found that 
his Royal Highness was very ready to 
oblige mc when I asked him. 

Do you recollect having desired Mr. 
Corri to burn any letters or papers that 
were in his possession ? — Yes, I do. 

Was that desire expressed by letter or 
by word of month ? — By word of mouth. 

When was that desire expressed ? — I 
cannot speak as to the time, but I believe 
some piece of work had happened pub- 
licly ; I forget upon what occasion, whe- 
ther it was about lord Melville's trial, or 
■what, something or another that way. 

Do you recollect having made use of 
these expressions, That there would be a 
terrible noise about it, and the Duke 
woidd be very angry ? — It is very likely 
I did ; I dare say 1 did. 

What did you mean by those expres- 
sions, in case you did use them ? — That 
lie would be very angry with me for be- 
ii»g incautious. 

You have stated, that you only receiv- 
ed a thousand a year from the Duke of 
York ; had you credit with the Duke's 
tradesmen ? — No. 

You have stated, that you received 
money for procuring a commission for 
Mr. Dowler, and a letter of service for 
colonel French, was money paid to you 
before you made applications to the 
Duke upon either of those accounts ?--— 
So. 

Had you a promise of money ? — Yes. 

When you made the application to the 
Duke, did you state to him that you had 
a promise of pecuniary reward ?— I stat- 
ed the whole case of Mr. Dowler. 

Do you recollect to have had any nc- 



i 



gocialion respecting other promotions, 
entirely disconnected with the military 
department I — If you will point out what 
those things were, I will answer to it. 

Had you any negociation or money 
transactions respecting promotions in the 
church ? — I never received any ; but a « 
Dr. O'Meara applied to me ; he wanted Ij 
to be a bishop ; he is very well known in • 
Ireland. 

Are you confident you never had any 
application or negociation for any otlier 
preferment in the church, but tliis of Dr. 
O'Meara ? — Yes, lately. 

State what tliose applications were.— I 
hardly gave myself time to read tliem, as 
I have no Interest now. 

For what rank of promotion were those 
applications made ? — Something about a 
deanery or a bishoprick. 

Tlirough what channel were the per- 
sons applying led to believe you were to 
promote tlieir wishes ? — I do not know ; 
I believe still the Duke of York, they 
thought. 

Those applications were since the con- 
nection between yourself and the Duke 
of York had ceased .' — Yes. 

Did you state the name of any other 
great or illustrious person to those per- 
sons so applying, or any agent applying 
on their behalf ? — No, certainly not. 

Do you recollect the name of any per- 
son who applied for those church prefer- 
ments ? — Is it wished the gentleman who 
wrote to mc, or the gentleman who want- 
ed the step in the church ? 

Both. — Those are^some of the letters 
that colonel Wardle ran off with, that re- 
late to them. 

State the names of any persons who 
applied for those church preferments. — 
The gentleman is determined to deny it ; 
I have just been speaking to him now 
upon that subject. 

What is his name ? — Donovan. 

On whose behalf did Mr. Donovan ap- 
ply to you ? — I do not know ; he talks a 
great deal about Dr. Glasse, and a great 
many other Doctors ; but it was not for 
Dr. Glasse tliat tlie appointment was 
wished. 

For whom was it that the appointment 
was wished ? — I cannot recollect the 
name ; but it is in tliose letters tliat col- 
onel Wardle has, I think. 

How do you know that Mr. Donovan 
means to deny this fact ; of having made 
this application to you for church prefer- 
ment ? — I do not know that he means to 
deny about the church prelermcnt ; but 



119 



lie means to deny it altogether ; and I 
never did prefer any one to the chnrcli. 

Did you ever receive a letter from 
Mr. Donovan, telling' you to be rery quick 
in your application to tlie Duka of York, 
or perhaps some other illustrious person 
would interfere with him, and get tlie 
preferment ; and who was that illustri- 
ous person ? — I believe the person who 
takes almost all the patronage of the 
church in England, he alluded to, or who 
is entitled to it, as being the first female 
personage in F<iigland ; but col. Wardle 
told me he would never bring that name 
forward, or that letter. 

Did you ever receive a letter fi-om Mr. 
Donofan, telling you to be very quick in 
your application to the Duke of York, or 
perhaps some other illustrious person 
would interfere with him, and get the 
preferment ? — Yes, I received such a 
letter. 

Did you ever communicate Dr. O'Mea- 
ra's offer for a bishoprick to the Com- 
mander in Chief? — Yes, I did, and all his 
documents. 

AVhat was the Conimander in Chief's 
answer ? — That he had preached before 
his Majesty, and his Majesty did not 
like the O in his name. I never mention- 
ed that till this moment, except to the 
doctor himself 

Did Dr. O'Meara specify any particular 
sum ; and what was that sum ? — I think 
that gentleman must be a friend of his, 
and he must know better than I do, and 
he may recollect perhaps. 

Did Dr. O'Meara sgecify any particular 
sum ? — I forget ; and I have burnt almost 
all my papers; I might recollect, but 
not at this moment. 

Do you recollect at what time Dr. 
O'Meara made this application ? — In 
1805, the veiy night that the duke was 
going to Weymouth ; he called upon me 
the moment the duke had left the house, 
between twelve and one o'clock ; I think 
he watched his Uoyal Highness out, as 
he had seen that his horses were waiting 
in Portman-square, and then he came in 
just as I was upon the stairs, and said it 
was a very good opportunity, for' he was 
going to Wejmouth immediately, and 
asked me to come down stairs again, and 
w^rite him a letter of introduction to his 
Royal Highness, and I did so. 

You have said you had no credit with 
the duke's tradesmen ; do you mean to 
say that the duke did not pay any of your 
tradesmen's bills ?— I do not recollect 



that ever he did, except one to a milliner. 

You liave stated, that the Duke of York 
had paid several sums of money in addi- 
tion to the thousand a year, upon various 
occasions ; do you still adhere to that 
statement ?— He paid 1,3001. to the sil- 
versmith, to balance from what I had 
paid ; I do not recollect any thing at 
present but that. 

Did not the Duke of York pay several 
other considerable sums, besides the 
lOOOl. a-year, during your residence in 
Gloucester-place ? He paid for one lan- 
dau, and that is all I can recollect at all. 

Are you positive that you can recollect 
no other sums being paid for you by his 
Royal Highness ? — I cannot recollect one 
except those. 

What was the amount of your debts at 
the separation from his Royal Highness '. 
— Something under 20001. I sent in to 
him the next day by Mr. Comrie ; but I 
fovmd them to be more, upon examina- 
tion. 

Did you understand, when you were 
asked whether the Duke of York had 
paid any other sums besides the lOOOi. 
a-year, tliat the question applied to sums 
paid to tradesmen ; if so, .state now whe- 
ther you received yourself any sum."? 
from the Duke of Yoi-k besides the 10001. 
a-year ? — I do not recollect any. 

For what period did you reside in 
Gloucester-place ! — I should think about 
two years and a half, or three yeai's. 

During the two years and a half or 
three years you lived at Gloucester-place 
and Weybridge, was the Duke of York 
well acquainted with the extent of your 
establishment ? — Certainly ; never a day 
passed without his being there, except 
the time that he went to the king. 

On whom was the coxirt martial, on 
which you stated on a former evening 
that you had been a witness ? — On capt. 
Thompson. 
£The witness was directed to withdraw.j 

JOHN CLEMENTSON, Esquire, the 
Deputy Serjeant at Arms, was exa- 
mined by the committee, as follows : 
State to the committee what you know 
relative to the coming of Mrs. Clarke to 
the house, and her passage from her 
carriage up to the door. I directed th* 
messengers, when Mrs. Clarke was or- 
dered to be called in, to go to her ; it 
was some time before they could find 
her ; I directed them to go to the differ; 
cnt coffee houses, and at last learnt than 



120 



she was waiting in lier carriage close to 
the House of Commons. She sent me a 
message by a messenger, stating that she 
had been insulted, and she would not get 
out of her carriage till I came for her. Im- 
mediately I went down . When I got there, 
I saw seven or eight people, or a dozen 
people, I do not think more ; her carriage 
door was opened, and she was handed 
out, and not a word passed. I took a con- 
stable with me, and brought her up to 
the house. There was not a word said 
to her all the way I came with her here. 

Was not there a considerable crowd in 
Xhe passages leading to the house ? — Yes, 
there were several people, a great many 
servants, they were standing on one side ; 
there was quite room enough for us to 
pass. 

Did any of those persons insult her ? — 
Not a word passed, to my knowledge. 

Who was the messenger whom you 
sent for her .' — His name is Skelton. 

He was sent by you for Mrs. Clarke ? — 
Yes. 
f The witness was directed to withdraw.] 

Miss MARY ANN TAYLOR was called 

in, and examined by the committee, as 

follows : 

Were you in the habit of visiting in 
Gloucester-place, when Mrs. Clarke was 
under the protection of the Duke of York ? 
»— Very frequently. 

Did you ever hear the Duke of York 
speak to Mrs. Clarke respecting colonel 
Prench and his levy ? — Once only. 

Relate what passed at that time. Tlie 
Duke's words were, as nearly as I can 
recollect, I am continually worried by 
col. French — he worries me continually 
about the levy business, and is always 
wanting something more in his own fa- 
vour. Turning to Mrs. Clarke, I think 
he said, " How does he behave to you, 
darling ?" or some such kind words as he 
used to use ; that was all that was said. 

Do you recollect any thing further 
passing than what you have stated ? — 
Mrs. Clarke replied, " Middling, not 
very well." That was all that she said. 

Was that the whole of the conversa- 
tion ? — No. 

Relate the rest. The Duke said, " Mas- 
ter French must mind what he is about, 
or I shall cut up him and his levy too." 
That was the expression he used. 

How long have you known Mrs. Clarke ? 
— Ten years. 

Have you known her no longer than 
ten years ? — I do not exactly recollect, it 
may be something more. 



Where did yoii first become acquaint- 
ed with her ? — At a house at Bayswater, 
near the Gravel Pits. 

Where <do you live yourself? — At 
Chelsea. , 

Willi whom did you live at BaySwater ? 
— With my parents. 

What are your parents ? — My father 
was a gentleman. 

Do you live with your father now ?— 
No. 

Is your father living ? — Yes. 

Is your motlier living ? — Yes. 

Do you live with your mother ? — No. 

Are 3'ou married ?— No. 

With whom do you live ? — My sister. 

What is your sister's name ? — Sarah. 

Is she a married woman or a single 
woman ? — Single. 

Where do you live ? — Chelsea. 

In lodgings or as housekeepers ?•— 
Housekeepers. 

Are you of any profession ? — If a board- 
ing-school be a profession. 

In what part of Bayswater did Mrs. 
Clarke live when you knew her there ?— 
It is called Craven-place, within two 
doors of our house. 

Who lived with her ? — Her husband, 
when I first knew her. 

Have you known any one living with 
her since ?-— His Royal Highness the 
Duke of York. 

Have you known no man live with her 
but his Royal Highness, since her hus- 
band lived with her .'—Not to my know- 
ledge. 

Have you seen much of her ; have you 
been intimately acquainted with her ? — 
Yes. 

You are not related to her, are you ? — 
My brother is married to her sister. 

bid you know her when she lived at 
Tavistock-place ? — Yes. 

Did her husband live with her there ? — 
I never saw him there — I understood she 
lived with her mother there. 

What time passed between her leav- 
ing her husband and her living with the! 
Duke of York ? — I cannot recollect. 

About how many years ? — I do not 
know that. 

How long ago did you know her at 
Bayswater ? — Somewhat about ten years ; 
I cannot say exactly. 

Had not her husband left her before 
she left Bayswater ?— I do not know. 

Do you mean to say, you do not know 
whether Mrs. Clarke's husband liad left 
her before she left Bayswater ? — Yes. 

What was her husband ?— I always un- 
derstood he was a man of some fortune, 



]21 



Do you not know that he had only an 
annuity of 501. a year, which was paid 
him weekly ? — I never heard such a thin^^. 

Did you ever se^him with Mrs. Clarke, 
during the latter part of bcr stay at Bays- 
water ? — No. 

During t'le latter part of the time Mrs. 
Clarke staid at Bayswater, you never saw 
her husband, Mr. Clarke, there ? — I do 
not recollect that I did. 

Where did Mrs. Clarke go from Bays- 
water ? — I do not recollect. 

Do you remember her in Park-lane ? — 
She called upon me one day, and said she 
was in Park-lane. ' 

Were you in her house, at Tavistock- 
place, often ? — Yes. 

Did you live with her there ? — I never 
lived with her at all. 

You never slept in the house ? — Yes, 
frequently. 

Do you know that any one lived with 
her but Iier husband at that time ? — No. 

You took her to be a modest, decent 
woman, whilst she lived iu Tavistock- 
place ? — She lived with her mother as I 
thought, and I knew nothing to the con- 
ti-ary. 

What is your father's name ? — The 
same name as mine. 

Taylor ? — Yes. 

What is his clir'stLan ? — Thomas. 

Where does he live now ? — I had rather 
be excused answering-. 

[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

[The witness was again called in, and the 

question was proposed. 3 

I do not know. 

Do you mean that your credit should 

rest upon the veracity of that answer that 

you do not know where your father lives ? 

— I do not exactly understand the que stion. 

[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

[The witness was again called in.] 

Do you mean seriously upon reflection 
to abide by your answer, tliat you do not 
know where your father lives ? — Yes. 

How long is it since you have seen him ? 
About a fortnight. 

Do you know where he was living when 
you saw him last ? — At Chelsea. 

In what street at Chelsea ? — I beg leave 
to decline answering that question. 

What reason have you for declining 
answering that question ? — I do not like 
to tell to so large an assembly where 1 live 

Were you living with your father ? — 
Some time ago. 

A fortnight ago were you living with 



your father ? — He did not live vvltli nie, 
he had just come from the country. 

Was he living at Chelsea .' — He staid 
two or three days with me. 

Where had he been living- in the coun- 
try before he came to you ? — He had been 
going about different parts, I do not know 
where. 

Is he of any business ? — No. 

What objection have you, who keep a 
boarding-school, to tell this house where 
you live particularly I — I have answered 
that just now. 

Will you repeat it ? — I did not wish 
to inform so large an assembly of my 
residence. 

What reason have you for wishing to 
conceal where you live from so large an 
assembl)- ; — They will find I am poor, and 
doubt my veracity. 

You maybe assured your veracity will 
not be doubted on account of your po- 
verty ; state to the house where you live 
and what street in Chelsea you live in i — 
China-row. 

AVhat number ? — No. 8. 

Do you keep a boarding-school at that 
place ] — I and my sister do. 

Was any body present besides yourself 
at the conversation which you allege to 
have passed between the Duke of York 
and Mrs. Clarke, respecting colonel 
French ?— No. 

Did you often see the Duke of York in 
company with Mrs, Clarke ?— Yes. 

How often may you have seen him? — I 
do not recollect ; seldom three weeks 
passed that I did not. 

How long have you kept a boarding- 
school ? — Two years. 

At the same place ? — No. 

Where before I — at Kentish Town. 

What 'part of Kentish Town; what 
street ? — it had no name. 

Can you tell what Number ? — No, it 
was neither a number, nor had the place 
a name ; there were but two houses. 

Did you keep that boarding-school un- 
der the name of Taylor ? — Yes. 

Where didyour father live at that time ? 
—He lived with me during part of the time 
there. 

How long have you lived at Chelsea .' 
Last Michaelmas twelvemonth. 

How long had you lived at Kentish 
Town ? — Not above three quaiters of a 
year. 

While you were at Kentish town, where 
did your father live, when he was not 
with you ! — I had ratlicr not answer that 
question. 



1:22 



» 



While you were at Kentish towai, where 
did your father live, wlien he was not 
with you ? — I must appeal to the indul- 
gence of the chairman. 

£The chairman informed tlie Witness 
that there appeared no reasonable 
objection to her answering' the ques- 
tion, and that therefore it m as the 
pleasui-e of the committee tliat she 
should answer it.] 

I cannot recollect just now. 

AVhy did you wish to be excused an- 
swering that question, when you only did 
uot recollect were it was that your fa- 
tlier lived ? — For that reason. 

How long' ago is it that you heard 
the conversation you have been speaking 
of, between his Royal Highness and Mrs. 
Clarke ? — I cannot say exactly. 

As nearly as you can ? — During Mrs. 
Clarke's residence in Gloucester-place. 

Where did you live then ? — We moved, 
about that time, but I do not recollect 
whether that circumstance happened af- 
terwards or before. 

From what place to what place did you 
move ? — From Bayswater to Islington. 

Did your father live with you at Bays- 
water, at the tima you removed to Isling- 
ton ? — Yes, 

Did he live with you at Islington ! — Yes. 

Where did you live at Islington ? — Dol- 
by Terrace. 

Do you i-ecoUect what ninnber ? — No. 5. 

What business did your father carry 
on then ? — None. 

Has your father never parried on any 
business ? — No. 

What business was Mr. Clarke ? — I ne- 
ver heard that he was of .any business. 

How long did you live at Islington ? — A 
little more than a year. 

Was that before you went to Kentish 
town ? — Immediately preceding it. 

You lived at Kentish town about three 
quarters of a year ? — Exactly. 

Do you know Mr. W.ardle ? — Yes. 

How long have you known him ? — ^Not 
more than two or three months. 

Have you known him two or three 
months ? — Yes. 

At whose request do you attend here 
to-night ? — ^Atthe request of Mrs. Clarke. 

Did you ever see Mr. Dowler at Mrs. 
Clarke's house at Gloucester-place ? — 
Yes. 

Did you ever see Mr. Dowler in the 
same room with his Royal Highness the 
Duke of York and Mrs. Clai-ke ! — Never. 

Were you ever told by Mrs. Clarke, 
that she had represented Mr. Dowler to 



the Duke of York as Mrs. Clarke's bro- 
ther ; — Never. 

Do you believe that your father's afTalrs 
are in a state of embarrassment ?— Yes. 

Do you know Mr. Williams, a clergy- 
man, of Kentish Town I — I never heard 
liis name. 

Have you always kept a boarding- 
school at your different residences ? — At 
Kentish Town, and at Chelsea. 

How many scholars have you now ? — 
About twelve. 

How long did you reside at Kentish 
Town ! — Three quarters of a yeai-. 

Did you remove immediately from Is- 
lington to Kentish Town ? — Yes. 

How long did you reside at Islington I 
— More than a twelvemonth. 

How much more than a twelvemonth ? 
— Seven or eight months. 

The conversation th.it you have stated 
you heai'd to take pkice between the 
Duke of York and Mrs. Clarke, you stated 
to have passed about the time you remov- 
ed from B.ayswater to Islington ; is that 
correct ? — Yes, it must have been about 
that time. 

Was it about tliat time ?— I cannot say 
exactly. 

Upon recollection, c.-\n you recal to 
your mind any circumstances which will 
induce you to believe that it was about 
that time ? — No. 

Then, do you state that without any 
precise recollection upon the subject ? — 
Only by guess. 

Do you recollect ever seeing colonel 
French in Gloucester-place ? — I have 
heard him announced ; but I cannot say 
that I .was introduced to him. 

What is the age of your youngest scho- 
lar ? — Seven. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw.] 

Mr. DANIEL SUTTON was called in, 
and exammed by the committee, as 
follows : 

Do you recollect Mrs. Clarke being at 
captain Thompson's court martial, at Col- 
chester ? — I do. 

State to the committee what passed 
relative to her being put down a widow ? 
— in consequence of my having been di- 
rected to summon Mrs. Clarke to appear 
to give evidence before the court mar- 
tial that was sitting, on charges pre- 
ferred against captain Thompson, 1 ap- 
plied to captain Thompson's solicitor, a 
Mr. Smitliies, and desired he would send 
to me the christian as well as the sur- 
name and description of Mrs. Clarke. 



12: 



Mr. Smithies delivered to me the desciip- 
tion upon paper ; and, as near as I can 
recollect, her name was MaryAnn Clarke, 
of Loiighton Lodjje, in the county of Es- 
sex, widow. In consequence of the de- 
scription so given to me, by Mr. Smithies, 
I entered it upon the minutes of the 
court, and administered the oath which 
1 usually administered to Witnesses, 
and then having read the charges to Mrs. 
Clarke, she then answered the questions 
which were put by lieutenant colonel 
Fane, who was the prosecutor ; was after- 
wards examined upon questions submit- 
ted by Mr. Smitl ' -s, wlio was concerned 
for captain Tho ^^son, and then upon 
questions that were ^sked her by differ- 
ent members of the court. I have a recol- 
lection, I think, of Mr. Smithies having 
commxmicated to mc, she was not exam- 
ined the first day she was summoned, 
in consequence of a witness, of the name 
of Maltby, who had been under examina- 
tion for a considerable time. I think Mr. 
Smithies communicated to me some del- 
icacy Mrs. Clarke had, as to the appear- 
ance before the coui't, and as to ques- 
tions that might be put to her ; and I 
told him, that she need not be under any 
apprehensions, for no improper questions 
shoidd be put to her ; if she answered 
the interrogatories of the prosecutor and 
the court, she need be under no appre- 
hension as to any disagreeable questions, 
which she seemed to apprehend might 
be put to her ; and she subsequently an- 
swered every question that was put ; 
and, upon that particular charge, captain 
Thompson was afterwards lionourably 
acquitted. 

Did she herself state herself to be a 
widow, or was she asked, or did any 
conversation pass between }'0urself and 
her, upon tliat subject ? — I really am not 
quite sure ; I saw Mrs. Clarke once or 
twice previous to her examination that 
day, in order to communicate to her that 
she must stop, and Mr. Smithies request- 
ed me to step to The Cups, where he was, 
to let him have the proceedings, to pre- 
pare captain Thompson's defence ; I ra- 
ther think it was Mr. Smithies, for-I per- 
fectly remember, which is usual where 
the Assistant Adjutant General of the 
district does not deliver me the list of 
the witnesses, but where they come from 
the solicitor of the party, that he will de- 
liver to me the name and description, and 
I rather think it was in consequence of 
what he said to me. 

You do not recollect asking her the 

17 . 



question whether she was a widow or 
not ? — Upon my word I do not recollect 
whether I did. 

You do not recollect any conversation 
that passed relative to her situation ; her 
wishing to avoid publicity ? — I do not re- 
collect the particulars, but I do recollect, 
either before or after the time Mr. Smi- 
thies asked me to step down to the inn, 
with the papers, that she said she was 
ill a very delicate situation, and alluded 
t;i her situation ; I do not recollect that 
she mentioned the particular person un- 
der whose protection she was, but she 
alluded to it, and I understood from gen- 
eral report what she meant. 

Was she particularly described as a 
widow, or did she answer to the interro- 
gatory whether she was or wis not a 
widow ? — She answered to no interroga- 
tory upon that subject, it is not the prac- 
tice for witnesses at courts martial to an- 
swer to such interrogatories, unless they 
are specifically put; the name and de- 
scription is put down, and then the charg- 
es read ; then the oath is administered, 
and then the question put. 

Do }ou recollect any evidence that 
came forward at that court martial, rela- 
tive to a bill of exchange ? — Yes, I do, 
Mrs. Clarke was examined, and gave ev- 
idence upon two bills of exchange. 

[The witness was directed to with- 
draw. 

[The witness was again called in.] 

RcLitc the circumstances of her testi- 
mony, so far as you recollect. — I have 
the original minutes which I took at that 
court martial, in my pocket-book. 

Refer to that part of the evidence which 
refers to the bill of exchange signed Eli- 
zabeth Mackenzie Farquhar. — Mary Ami 
" Clarke, of Loughton Lodge, in the 
" county of Essex, widow, a witness pro- 
** duced by the prosecutor, being duly 
" sworn, was examined." 

Was that read to her ? — No, I believe 
it was not read to her. 

[The witness read the following extract 
from the minutes.] 

" Q Look at this bill ; is the body 
" of it and signature your hand-wri- 
" ting ? — The witness was then shewn 
" the bill of the 1st May 1807, and 
" then deposed. A. Yes ; it is ; but it 
" purports to be the hand of my moth- 
" er ; she was present when It was 
" written, I am frequently in the habit 
" of guiding her hand when she writes, 



124 



' or takes any thing in her hand, in 
' consequence of her being very infirm 

* and very nervous. Q. Look at this 

' bill ; is the body of it and signature 
' your hand-writing ? — The witness 

* was then shewn a bill of the 15th of 

* July 1807. A. It is. Q. Look at 

* both the bills, and state to the court, 
' whether the acceptance of both is 
' the hand-writing of Mr. Russell Man- 
' ners. A. Yes, in the presence of my- 
self and niy mother. Q. Did you, 

or your mother, give these cb-afls to 
captain Thompson ? A. My mother 
the first, and myself, I believe, the 

last. Q. Was captain Thompson 

aware that you signed the name of 
Eliz* McKenzie Farquhar to these 
drafts, when they were given to him ? 

A. Never. Q. Did he not know 

your hand-writing from your moth- 
er's ? A. I do not think he does, when 

I direct her hand Q. Was Mr. 

Russell Manners indebted to you in 
a sufficient sum, to authorize you 
to draw upon him for the sum of a 

hundred pounds ? A. He was. 

Q. State to the court the reason why 
you did not indorse the bill dated the 
20th of May 1807. A. I had no rea- 
son ; I was not aware of the circum- 
stance that I had not indorsed it ; it 
never was returned to me to be in- 
dorsed. Q. Do you recollect the 

date of the bill, dated the 15th of 
July, 1807, being altered ? A. No, I 

do not. Q. When tliose bills were 

given to captain Thompson, had you 
any doubt but that Mr. Russell Man- 
ners would pay them when they res- 
pectively should become due r A. 

Not the least. Q. Had you ever 

before these bills were drawn, drawn 
bills upon Mr. Russell Manners ; and 
if you had, were such bills paid when 
due ? A. I never did ; I have more 
bills of Mr. Manners's, but I have 
never made use of them, finding that 
those bills were not duly honoured. 

Q. Had you any good reason to 

believe that Messrs. Maltby would 
pay the bills when they became due ; 
and if you had, state to the court 

* what were the reasons on which your 
belief was founded ? A. I certainly 

' thought that Mr. Rowland Maltby 

* would pay them, because I knew 
' that he had at different times paid 
' some thousands for Mr. Manners ; 
' besides which, Mr. Maltby knew I 
' had assisted Mr. Manners with mo- 



" ney, and therefore I thought he 
" would take care of those bills before 

" others. Q. Had you any personal 

" communication with Mr. Rowland 
" Maltby respecting the bills in ques- 
" tion, previous to the last week ? A. 

" Never. Q. Have you had any per- 

" sonal communication with him res- L 
" pecting them within the last week, J 
" and if you have, state to the court 
" the substance of it. A. On Thurs- 
" day last I went, accompanied by my m 
" mother, to Mr. Rowland Maltby's, ■ 
", and he told me that he was coming." * 

Does it appear up«^n the minutes of 
that court martial, An>m the testimony 
of Mrs. Clarke, that she put the pen into 
her mother's hand, and with that wrote 
her name upon a bill of exchange ? — That 
i s in the answer to the first question that 
was put to Mrs. Clarke. 

During the proceedings of that court 
martial, were any private questions put 
in your presence to Mrs. Clai'ke out of 
court, respecting her being a widow, 
which were afterwards entered upon the 
minutes ?-^I do not recollect any ; I had 
conversation, as I mentioned before, with 
Mr. Smithies, and, I believe, with Mrs. 
Clarke, I am not exactly sure, but I can- 
not recollect the whole of that conver- 
sation ; it was relative to her delicacy 
with respect to her being examined, and 
her fear that unpleasant questions might 
be put to her generally ; I have no recol- 
lection of any as to her being a widow ; 
I desired Mr. Smithies, understanding 
that captain Thompson was brother to 
Mrs. Clarke, that he would give me her 
description, and he gave it upon paper. 

[The witness was directed to withdi-aw. 

M. THOMAS PARKER was called in, 

and examined by the committee, as 

follows : 

Refer to your book as to the date of 

any pajment that was made by Mrs. 

Clarke in the year 1804 ; 5001. on account 

of a service of plate ? — I know nothing of 

the subject at all ; I was only left exec- _ 

utor to Mr. Blrkett ; I have a book here, 

in which there is some account, which I 

looked at to-day, wliich I did not kiiow 

of before. 



Produce the book. 

[The witness fetched the book, in 
which appeared tlie following account. 



, 



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126 



Do you know any thing' more of that 
book ; or do you know as to any of the 
payments, by whom they were made ; or 
■what those bills were, or upon whom 
drawn ? — I do not know any thing' moi-e 
of it ; there is another little account in 
this book ; here is nothing here which 
states at all what bills they were. I did 
not know any thing- of it till to-day ? I 
was not sure whether the summons was 
intended for me or not, for my name was 
not inserted, nor where Mr. Birkett li\ed; 
it was inserted Prince-street, Hanover- 
square ; I never knew him live there. I 
came down, it being left at my house. 

Do you know who the late Mr. Birkett's 
bankers were ? — Yes, Marsh and Compa- 
ny in jBerner-street. 

Have you any other memorandum in 
that book ? — Here is some other accoimt 
of goods, watches, and some other silver 
goods, and various other articles, whicli 
amounts to 2861. 9s. besides the other 
account. 
[The witness w^s directed to withdraw.] 

HARVEY CHRISTIAN COMBE, Esq. a 
member of the House, attending in 
his place, was examined, as follows : 
Will you mention the circumstance of 
your seeing Mr. Dowler, shortly after he 
had received his commission in the com- 
missariat ? — I was riding through the 
street, and I met Mr. Dowler by accdent, 
I had heard before with great pleasure, 
that he had got an appointment in the 
commissariat ; I was not unacquainted 
■with the reverses of fortune he had sus- 
tained at the Stock Exchange, and I was 
rejoiced to hear that he had an employ- 
ment that would yield hira a comfort- 
able maintenance ; I stopt him to give 
him my congratulations, and having 
heard that he had got this by the request 
of Mrs. Clarke, I asked him whether he 
had obtained it by the interest of Mrs. 
Clarke or Mr. Brook Watson ; his reply 
to me was, " by Mr. Watson's." 

From your knowledge of Mr. Dowler, 
do you believe him to be a man of integr 
rity ? — Perfectly so, I would have recom- 
mended him to any situation he was a 
candidate for. 

From whom had you heard that he ob- 
tained the appointment from MrsX'larke ; 
—I know a great many persons who are 
equally acquainted with the Dowlers : 
from various persons I heard it, but I 
cannot recollect one individual. 

Did you know of your own knowledge 
that there has been any connection be- 



tween Mr. Dowler and- Mi-s. Clarke ?— I 
did not. 

Cannot you recollect one person among 
many individuals from whom you heard 
it ? — It is a great many years ago, if I 
wei-e compelled to say who I should se- 
lect, my own son. 

Do you not from your own knowledge 
know that Mr. Dowler's father adopted 
a line of politics in the city directly op- 
posite to that of Sir Brook Watson ? — I 
know that Mr. Dowler's father in the city 
of London adopted the Whig principles, 
but whether he was a member of the 
Wliig Club I do not know, nor do 1 now 
know exactly what Mr. Brook Watson's 
political principles were. 

Mr. JEREMIAH DOXOVAN was called 
in, and examined by the committee, 
as follows ; 
Do you know Mi-s. Clarke ? — I do. 
Do you recollect at any time furnish- 
ing her with a li.st of names of persons 
for whom she was to obtain from the 
Duke of York, military or other promo- 
tion ? — Never. 

Have you not been in the habit of traf- 
ficking in places under government ? — I 
never have truflicked for any places un- 
der government in my life 

In no situations for India ? — From go- 
vernment. 

Appointments from government ? — 
Never. 

Or from the East India Company, ap- 
pointments that must coine under the 
cognizance of the Board of Controul ? — 
I will be obliged to the gentleman if he 
will inform me what appointments those 
are. 

Have you ever offered a situation in 
India for a sum of money to a Mr. O'Ha- 
ra ? — I have. 

What was the niture of that situation ? 
—A writership. 

What was Mr. O'Hara to have given 
you for that situation • — Three thousand 
some odd pounds, but I cannot say ex- 
actly. 

When was this ? — I believe the last 
year, but I do not exactly recollect. 

Ilow did that negotiation break off ?— 
It broke off in consequence of Mr. O'Ha- 
ra's brother not depositing the money at 
the banker's which was nominated by the 
gentleman who had the disposal of the 
appointment, or who informed me that 
he had the disposal of the appointment. 

Did not Mr. O'Hara offer to deposit the • 
money in his own banker's hands, and 



127 



did you not object to that, and wish it to 
be deposited in your banker's hands, in 
Herietta-strcet, Corent-fiarden ? — Tlie 
money, Mr. O'Hara informed me, was 
deposited in a ijanker's hands in the city, 
I believe it was Ctirtis and Robarts ; the 
person who had the disposal of the ap- 
pointment would not consent to its re- 
maining* tlie^, but wished it should be 
deposited at Messrs. Austen and Maunde's 
in Covent-Garden, and in consequence of 
tiiat the nepro'iation ceased. I did it at 
the request of a lady from Dublin, who 
sent a letter to me, saying- tliat she wish- 
ed I could obtain for a Mr. O'Hara, wliose 
father was her particvilar friend, a writer- 
ship to India ; I applied to a gentleman, 
and he told me he could obtain that ap- 
pointment, and the negotiation broke off 
in consequence of their not depositing 
the money at the house of Austen and 
Maunde. 

What person authorised you to nego- 
tiate this appointment in the East India 
Company's service ? — 
[The witness was directed to withdraw.] 

[The witness was again called in, and 
the question proposed.] 

Am I obliged to expose the name of 
the lady ; if 1 am, I certainly shall. 

Was the lady the purchaser, or was it 
through the lady you were to obtain the 
appointment of some director ? — The 
lady wrote to me, requesting I vvoidd 
make inquiry, in order to procure the 
wrltership for this gentleman ; in conse- 
quence of this I did make the inquiry, 
but do not know any dii-ectojl^ name 
concerned in the business. 'w' 

Of whom did you expect to recive this 
patronage ? — I was recommended by 
Messrs. Austen and Maunde, to a gen- 
tleman who promised to procure tlie pa- 
tronage. 

Name the gentleman. — Mr. Tahour- 
din an attorney of Argyll-street. 

Do you know from Mr. Tahourdin's 
connections, from whom he was to ob- 
tain it at the India House ? — I do not. 

Cannot you guess or surmise ?— I cannot. 

Upon what gounds did you desire the 
three thousand and odd pounds to be 
lodged ?- It was to have been lodged to 
be paid to Mr. Tahourdin, on the young 
gentleman passing as a writer to India. 

Did Mr. Tahourdin ever give you rea- 
son to believe that he had the promise of 
that nomination ? — If he had not, I cer- 
tainly should not have requested the 
young gentleman to have lodged the mo- 
ney at the banker's. 



Did you introduce a clergyman of the 
name of O'lMeara to Mrs. Clarke ? — I 
have not the pleasure to know a clergy- 
man of that name. 

Did you ever apply to Mrs. Clarke for 
the promotion of any person in the 
Church ? — lu the month of November or 
December last, Mrs. Clarke informed 
me tliat she had very great influence ; I 
heard of a vacancy in tlie church, and I 
did apply for it for a friend of mine. 

What was that vacancy ? — A Deanery. 

What Deanery ?- — I believe Salisbury. 

Did you apply only for that Deanery, 
or anj' other Deanery ? — For either the 
De;^^^ of Salisbury or Hereford. 

This was either iu November or De- 
cember last ?- — It was. 

Being so intimate with Mrs. Clarke, of 
course you were apprized that at tliat 
time all intercourse had ceased between 
Mrs. Clarke and his Royal Highness the 
Duke of York ?- — I understood that his 
Royal Highness and Mrs. Clarke had had 
no connection for three years previous to 
that ; it was not through the Duke of 
York's interest it was understood it could 
be obtained. 

Through whose interest was it under- 
stood that this was to be obtaincd,through 
the influence of Mrs. Clarke ? — Mrs. 
Clarke informed me that she had very 
good interest with the Duke of Portland, 
and that she could obtain any appointment 

Can you inform the committee what 
was to be the recompence, supposing the 
deanery had been obtained ? — I cannot ; 
I believe that it was 30001. that was of- 
fered for one of them by a subscription ; 
I did it to oblig-e a friend ; there was a 
subscription to have been entered into by 
some ladies, they did subscribe upwards 
of oOOOl. ; as I was instructed, it was for 
the Rev. Mr. Bazeley, I think that was 
the name of the gentleman ; he was to 
have been agreeably surprised witli u 
promotion, provided it had been carried 
into cftect, but he was on no account to 
know it. Mrs. Clarke answered, that the 
Duke of Portland had no interest in the 
church, the Queen having taken the patro- 
nage to herself. 

ilave you had any correspondence W|th 
Mrs. Clarke since the commencement of 
the present examination .' — I have re- 
ceived one letter from Mrs. Clarke since 
the commencement of this examination, 
or on the day, it A\as on Wednesday week 
I think ; I have received two letters 
from Mrs. Clarke since the motion of Mr. 
Wardle, the one on the Saturday subsc- 



128 



L qatot to the Friday luglit on which the 

f motion was made, the other on the Wed- 

lesday, on which day I believe the ho- 

fnourable house went into the examination. 

Did you at any time give any credit to 

le idea of Mrs. Clarke having any de- 

Egree of influence with the Duke of Port- 

fland ? — I certainly did give credit to it 

^in the first instance. 

Did you believe that Mrs. Clarke had 
Jsuch influence with the Duke of Port- 
f land as she had exercised with the Duke 
''of York on other applications ? — She ne- 
fver did make any application to the Duke 
r of York for me in her life. 

Were you not privy to the whole trans- 
[action of colonel French ? — Nor never 
leard any thing of it, till the levy was a- 
tbout to be raised, till colonel FrencJi call- 
fed upon rae to inform me tliat he was 
taising recruits for that levy, and asked 
le whether I could recommend him any 
old Serjeants tliat he could employ upon 
"lat duty. 
Did Mrs. Clarke give any reason to 
)u for the assertion she had made res- 
!»ecting her belief, as to any person's pow- 
sr of disposing of the patronage of the 
Ichurch ? — Mrs. Clarke informed me that 
[the Duke of Portland had not the patro- 
nage of the churcli, but there were other 
appointments that she had mentioned to 
le, that caused me to suppose that the 
)uke of Portland had the appointments 
In the church to dispose of. 

Have you received two or three let- 

|ers from Mrs. Clarke within this last 

lonth ? — I have received Letters from 

frs. Clarke, many during the months of 

Tovember, December, and January. 

Have you the letters which you state 
yourself to have received from Mrs. 
Clarke, since Mr. Wardle's notice on the 
present investigation ? — I liave two let- 
ters, and the reason I brought them was 
in hopes that Mr. Wardle would do me 
tlie honour to read the letters of mine, 
which it was mentioned he had in his 
possession from Mrs. Clarke. lam per- 
fectly willing to meet every charge tliat 
can criminate myself, but I should be sor- 
ry to involve any person that is innocent. 
1 believe Mr. Wardle made his motion on 
the 27th of January. 

jjThe witness delivered in two letters, 
which were read, dated the 28th of 
January, and the 1st of Feb 1809. 

" Dear Sir, 
" I am much mortified in seeing, in 
*' this day's paper the free use of your 
*'name and mine, in the debate last 



" night. I howeverfeok an opportu- 

." nity of seeing Mr. Wardle on the sub- 
" ject, and I find he is by no means so ■ 
" ill disposed as his speech seemed to« 
" evince ; but he tells me, that as I have ■ 
" committed myself and my papers, 
" he is determined to make every pos- 
"sible use of them, that to him seems 
" proper. I must be cai^id, and tell 
" you, that in order to facilitate some 
" negociations I had given him a few of 
" your letters. In one you speak of the 
" Queen, in another the two Deaner- 
" ies. As to myself, I must of course 
" speak the truth, as I shall be put on 
"oath. Let me persuade you, if call- 
*' ed on to keep to the truth, as 1 am con- 
" vinced you will ; but I mean the 
" tvhole truth, as to what has passed 
" formerly between yourself and me. 
" — I have a thousand thanks for your 
" being so quiet upon the 130. ; you 
"shall have it the moment my mother 
" comes from Bath. I fear, if you are 
" backward, Wardle will expose the 
" whole of the letters he has to the 
" house. 

" Your's trul)^, 

" M. A. Clarice." 

" Saturday evening." 
" In order to relieve your mind, I send 

my servant, though late." 
Indorsed : 
' Eec'd 28th January 1809, 

late at night." 

Wednesday Morning, 
Feb. 1st, 1809." 

'<»ear Sir, 
" I yesterday saw Mr. Wardle ; he 
" had a letter yesterday from your 
" friend Glass, begging him not to take 
" any business in hand, where his name 
" is mentioned : and he asks for you 
" also. He was Tutor to Wardle. 
"Now Mr. Wardle assures me, by 
" every thing honourable, that if you 
" speak candidly and fairly to the fact 
" of Tonyns, he will ask notliing more ; 
" and if he has been at all intemperate 
" with your name, he will do it every 
"justice. Take my advice and do it ; 
" it cannot injure you. I understand 
"your friend 7'mcA", some months ago 
" put a friend of his in possession of 
" Tonyn's business ; and yesterday a 
" man of the name of Finnerty gave 
" him a case, which he says he had 
" from you, of a captain Trotter and 
" another. Of course you will not 
" mention my telling you this. I wish 



Jl 



129 



"from my soul Mr. Wardle had taken 
" it up less dispassionately, he might 
" have ddnc more good. Why do you 
" not send me a line ? I dare say Cla- 
" vering is ifug'ging himself, as he did 
" not send the recommendation. 
" Yours, &c. 

"M.Jt.C." 

What rank have you in the army ? — 
Lieutenant. 

How long have you been in the army ? 
— I went into the army in the year 1778. 

In what regiment have you been ?— 
In the Queen's Rangers. 

Are you now in the Queen's Rangers ? 
—I entered into the army in the year 
1778 in the Queen's Rangers : in conse- 
quence of my services in the Queen's 
Rangers, I was recommended into the 
regiment called the North Carolina Vo- 
lunteers, then under colonel Hamilton ; 
the honourable major Cochrane, then 
major to the British Legion commanded 
by lieutenant colonel Tai'leton, now ge- 
neral Tarleton induced me to resign my 
company in the North Carolina regiment 
and to accept a lieutenancy in the Bri- 
tish Legion, under the command of lieu- 
tenant-colonel Tarleton, which I impru- 
dently did under the promise of the first 
troop or company that should become va- 
cant in that regiment. I served in that 
regiment daring the remainder of the 
war, from the year 1780, till the reduc- 
tion of the regiment In October, 1783 ; 
I brought home a detachment of that 
regiment, and was placed upon half-pay ; 
in consequence of my wound being very 
bad it was impossible for me to accept a 
commission upon full pay, many of which 
had been offered to me by colonels of 
different regiments, in consequence of 
those wounds I have suffered ; I am sorry 
to say that my surgeon, who did attend, 
is gone, or he could explain my present 
sufferings, but I have suffered more than 
is conceivable for any person who looks 
well in health as I do, being lusty I have 
not been able to take off my clothes or 
lie down for the last five years ; about six 
years from this period I was confined^ six- 
teen weeks under the care of Mr. Everard 
Home, Mr. M'Gregor of the Military 
Asylum, and Mr. Rivers of Spring Gar- 
dens, Mr. Astley Cooper also attended 
me, and I am now obliged to employ a sur- 
geon, that is Mr. Carpue, either he or his 
assistant dresses my wound daily : in con- 
sequence of the recommendations of the 
Honourable the late Marquis Cornwallis 



and lord Moira, I was placed in a Vete- 
ran Battalion, as a compensation in some 
degree for m}^ expenses as well as my 
sufferings from tliis wound, and through 
the same interest I obtained leave of ab- 
sence till further orders ; there are many 
other officers under similar circumsun- 
ces in the army, it being the only mcai.s by 
which his Royal Highness the Command- 
er in Chief can remunerate their services, 
at least that was the answer given by the 
adjutant general to lieutenant colonel 
Christie of the 11th Veteran Battalion (on 
the strength of which I at present draw 
my pay) when he applied last year to have 
me removed upon the retired list : with 
respect to mj' provincial services, I pre- 
sume they go for nothing ; I served fif- 
teen months in a fencible regiment at 
home as lieutenant and surgeon ; I serv- 
ed three years in the militia as lieutenant 
and surgeon, and I served three years as 
a sui'geon in an armed vessel appointed 
by the Treasury, and 1 trust it will not be 
thought too much that I draw the pay of 
a lieutenant. 

You have stated that you never sent In 
any names to Mrs. Clarke, either for pro- 
motions or for commissions in the army ? 
— Not till November or December last 
did I ever apply to Mrs. Clarke for any 
commissions in the army, either dii'ectly 
or indirectly. 

Do you recollect what commissions 
you applied for then to Mrs. Clarke ? — I 
do not ; there were some companies, but 
for whom I do not recollect. 

Do you recollect what you asked Mrs. 
Clarke to do respecting those companies ■ 
— I perfectly recollect that Mrs. Clarke 
informed me that she had interest with a 
great many gentleman, honourable mem- 
bers of this house ; that she had also 
great connections amongst general offi- 
cers, and that she could procure letters 
of recommendation which mig-ht acceler- 
ate any applications that were lying be- 
fore the Duke of York for purchases of 
commissions. 

Did you send any letters of recommen- 
dation from the commanding officers of 
regiments In favour of officers for pro- 
motions to Mrs. Clarke ? — I sent three let- 
ters, I think, from three different field 
officers, recommending gentlemen for 
purchase from lieutenancies to compa- 
nies. Those gentlemen had been recom- 
mended, if I mistake not, about twelve 
months, but their recommendations had 
not been attended to, to accelerate which 
it was thought advisable to procure the 



130 



recommendations I have already stated, 
and Mrs. Clarke informing me she could 
do it, I placed these recommendations in 
her hands for that purpose. 

Inform the committee how you got 
possession of those letters yourself. — I 
■will ; I got possession of those letters 
from Mr. Froome, under the following 
<;ircumstanccs : Mr. Froome called upon 
me, and informed me that he was about 
to resume his station or to be appointed 
a clerk in the house of Mr. Greenwood, 
upon condition that he should make oath 
or give security, one or the other, tliat 
he wovdd never do any tiling in the com- 
mission line as a broker in future ; that 
if I could do any thing with those three 
appointments which had liung so long, I 
should serve very deserving young men, 
and should be remunerated for my trou- 
ble ; that is the fact, however it may cri- 
minate me. 

State what the remuneration was to 
have been upon each of those commis- 
sions ? — It was above 3001. ; but how 
much I cannot say. 

Do you mean to state that above 3001. 
were to have been paid above the regula- 
tion price for carrying the point ? — Cer- 
tainly, on each commission. 

Do you know of your own knowledge, 
through wh.at means that 3001. upon each 
was procured ? — I do not. 

Only you mean to state that the officer 
purchasing was to have paid 3001. above 
■the regulation ? — I mean to state that 
both of those officers purchasing, on be- 
ing gazetted, was to m:ike the compli- 
ment of 3001. 

And it was Mr. Froome who put tlie 
three commissions into your hands I — 
Yes, he did, under the circumstances I 
have .ilieady related. 

Had you ever any conversation with 
any body but Mr.Froome respecting these 
commissions ? — I had conversations of 
course with Mrs. Clarke ; I had conver- 
sations with Mr. Glasse. 

Who is Mr. Glasse ? — The Reverend 
George Henry Glasse. 

Had you never a conversation with any 
other person respecting those appoiht- 
ments I — I do not recollect any other 
person. 

Do you recollect any other transactions 
of that nature coming under your knowl- 
edge ? — There was a majority I think, or 
two, under similar circumstances. 

Do you recollect what sum above the 
regulation was to have been paid on the 
in.ajority : — I do noi. 



l! 



Do you recollect any other commis- 
sions tliat fell under the same circum- 
stances ? — I do not recollec: any othel' 
commission but the two majorities, and 
those three companies. 

Did those majorities come from Mr^ I 
Froome also ? — They did. f j 

Did not Mv. Froome at that time tell 
you what remuneration was to be given ? 
It is very possible that he might, but I 
do not recollect the remuneration. 

Do you know what your shai'e of the 
profit was to be ? — I <L) not. 

What part of the transaction were yod 
to act ? — He was to procure the letters 
from Mrs. Clarke ; to attach tliem to 
those recommendations and memorials,, 
and to put tliem into the box at the 
Horse-Guards, and to let them take their 
chance ; and if they succeeded, thei» we 
were to be remunerated. 

Therefore, the part Mrs. Clarke was to 
have ac^d, was either to have got the 
recommendation backed bj- a member of 
Parliament, or some other person likely 
to give strength to such recommenda- 
tion ? — That was the part. 

What was she to have had for that 
part ? — She was to liave had, I believe, 
upon each of the majorities 5001. as neai*- 
ly as I can recollect. 

What was she to have had for the com- 
panies ? — I forget exactly ; but it was ei- 
ther a hundred, or more than a hundred. 

Do you know captain Tuck ? — I do. 

Do you recollect in the year 1804 or 
1805, offering captain Tuck a majority 
at a very low price ? — I remember that 
in the year 1804 or 1805, Messrs. Aus- 
ten and Maunde told me, that they ex- 
pected to be appointed agents to a regi- 
ment that was to be raised by a colonel 
Dillon ; that commissions were to be ob- 
tained in that regiment, or some other, 
and tliat there were many other levies to 
be raised ; and that the prices in tliat 
regiment were to be for an ensigncy 
so much ; for a lieutenancy so much : a 
company so much ; and I be.ieve that 
was the whole of the steps. The colonel 
had the appointments ; where they were 
either to raise so many men for their 
commissions, or pay a certain sum of 
money to the colonel. I met captain 
Tuck either in Parliament-street or 
Whitehall ; he had been employed by tlie 
honourable colonel Hanger to raise a 
levy, and by tliat had obtained the rank 
of captain, and was tlien upon half-pay. 
I told him, if he wished to get the step 
of majority, I thought if he would raise 



121 



the men, or pay a sum of money, he 
might get a majority I never thought 
any more of it till 1 met captain Tuck in 
the room this eveniug. 

Do you not recollect naming any other 
person as a party in this transaction, res- 
pecilng the commissions that were sent 
into Mrs. Clarke ? — I do not recollect, but 
there may be some other persons ; I do 
not conceive any other persons could 
have been mentioned. 

Will you name any other person that 
you can" recollect ? — I do not recollect 
any other persons, or I would name 
them. 

Did you mention the name of Mr. 
Greenwood ? — I never mentioned the 
name of Mr. Greenwood in the transac- 
tion at all, furtlier than Mr. Froome was 
obliged either to make an affidavit, or 
give security to Mr. Greenwood, that he 
would not act as a broker in future, or 
he would lose his situation. 

Who is Dr. Glasse, or Mr. Glasse 
whom you have mentioned in the course 
of youi examination, and who is men- 
tioned in oi\e of the letters ? — The Reve- 
rend George Henry Glasse, of Hanwell. 

How long have you known Mr. Glasse ? 
— I have known him for some years, but 
cannot exactly say how long. 

Has Mr. Glasse ever made any appli- 
cation to you relative to church or otlier 
preferment ? — Never in my life. 

Or you to him ? — I have not ? I, of my 
own accord, very imprudently promised 
to Mrs. Clarke, that if she could procure 
the Deanery of Hereford for Mr. Glasse, 
I should be extremely happy that she 
should do so ; but I never told Mr. Glasse 
of it till I liunk last Saturday was se'en- 
n'tglit, or Monday was se'ennight, and 
then Mr. Glasse was exceedingly enraged 
that I should have taken the liberty with 
his name. 

J What induced you to make that appli- 
CJitlon ? — The very great friendship I had 
for Mr. Glasse, and not conceiving that I 
was doing that which was improper at 
the time, or 1 would not have clone it. 

Did you oifer a thousand pounds ? — I 
did. 

And did it without Mr. Glasse's knowl- 
edge ? — Yes, without his knowledge, upon 
my sacred honour, and he never knew of 
it until the other day. 

You have stated that you would not 
l^ave made this offer if you had been 
aware that the transaction had been im- 
proper ; did you conceive the other trans- 
actions, which you have stated to the 

18 



committee yo\i had a hand in, to be pro- 
per transactions ? — I knew that these 
transactions pass daily, and therefore, 1 
thought that there was nothing so very 
heinous in the crime ; but I certainly did 
not conceive it altogether proper. 

How did you know such transactions 
pass daily ? — I had heard that such ti-ans- 
actions passed. 

Do you know, of your own knowledge, 
that sucli transactions pass daily f—1 nev- 
er was concerned in ^ly transaction of 
that kind, save and except the business 
of captain Tonyn, which 1 should be hap- 
py to explain ; I believe I had also the 
introduction of major Shaw. 

Do you recal to your mind the recol- 
lection of any other transactions of this 
kind ? — I do not. 

You stated at the commencement of 
your examination, that you were not a 
trafficker in places under Government ; 
do you abide by that statement now ? — ' 
If you will permit me to explain the bu- 
siness of captain Tonyn, I shall be oblig- 
ed ; but furthei than those I have men- 
tioned, I have never trafficked in any 
places under Government ; if I had I 
would not deny it. 

Have any of those other negotiations 
you have mentioned to the committee, 

been carried into effect ? Not one 

through me. 

Do you know whether those negotia- 
tions about the companies and the ma- 
jorities were carried into effect or r.ot ?— 
Not one of them. 

Were you to receive any remuneration, 
supposing the negotiation had been ef- 
fected ? — Certainly. 

Do you not call that trafficking in pla- 
ces under Goveniment ? — I will leave it 
for you, gentlemen, to decide ; I did not 
consider it so. 

Are those the only transactions of the 
kind, in which you ever in your life have 
been concerned ? — I believe they are. 

Be sure whether they are or not ? — I 
cannot be sure, because 1 do not recol- 
lect any other ; if I did, or you will do 
me the favour to point out any others, 1 
will not deny them. 

How long have you known Mrs. Clarke ? 
— I knew Mrs. Clarke. I believe, in the 
year 1805. 

Have you kept up your acquaintance 
with Mrs. Clarke froni that time to the 
present day ? — I had not seen Mrs. Clarke 
till November last for nearly three years ; 
more than two years however. 

You had not seen Mrs. Clarke till No- 



132 



vember last, since her separation from 
the Duke of York ? — Yes. 

Were you in the habit of seeing her 
when she was connected with the Duke 
of York ! — I saw her, I believe, two or 
three times, and that only when she was 
connected with the Duke of York, or at 
least when she lived in Gloucester-place. 

Did you see her only two or three times 
in the course of your lifetime, before the 
month of November last I — I presume in 
the course of my 'life -time, that I may 
have seen her half^ dozen times before 
November last, for she lived in Burling- 
ton-street, at a Mr. Russel Mannprs's, 
and I saw iier there twice. 

At what period was that ? — ^That 1 sup- 
pose must have been in the year 1806, 
or the latter end of 1805 ; it was after 
she was separated from the Duke of York, 
or left Gloucester-place. 

How did your acquaintance with Mrs. 
Clarke begin ? — My acquaintance witli 
Mrs. Clarke commenced in consequence 
of a report which had been circulated 
that I was the author of some scurrilous 
paragraphs reflecting on his Royal High- 
ness the Duke of York; I traced it to 
captain Sutton, an acquaintance of Mrs. 
Clarke's ; I endeavoured to trace them 
out, but in vain. I requested that I might 
be introduced to Mrs. Clarke to vindicate 
myself; I never had written a paragraph 
against any one of the Royal Family in my 
life, and that was what introduced me to 
jNIrs. Clarke's acquaintance. 

You have stated that while Mrs. Clarke 
resided in Gloucester-place, you saw her 
thi-ee or four times ; did you call upon her 
in Gloucester-place ?— I called upon her 
three or four times, it was at the house I 
saw her. 

Did you go of j'our ouii accord ? — I 
went of my own accord, having obtained 
permission to see her ; I was three or four 
months before I could obtain permission 
to see her, so strong was the impression 
against me as being the author of those 
paragraphs, that Mrs. Clarke would not 
see me, nor hear my name. 

How often did you see Mrs. Clarke 
when you called at Gloucester-place ?— 
I believe three different times. 

When you saw Mrs. Clarke, did you 
go of your own accord, or did she desire 
you to come ?— She never desired me to 
come that I know of, further than one 
particular period, which was in order to 
inquire the description of captain Tonyn. 

When you went of your own accord, 
with what view did you go ? — In order to 



do away the report that I had been the 
author of tliese paragraphs against his 
Royal Highness the Duke of York. 

AH the times you went, you went with . 
that view ? — Twice only, I believe ; I i 
never was at Mrs. Clarke's above three 1 
times in my life in Gloucester-place. I 

You have stated that you called there 
frequently before you could see Mrs. 
Clarke, and that you then called three 
different times, and saw Mrs. Clarke ? 
— I did not mention that 1 had called often 
at Mrs. Clarke's, and have not seen her. 

Did you do away the impressions enter- 
tained against you at your first interview 
with Mrs . Clarke ? — Not altogether. 

How many interviews were necessary 
to do away entirely those impressions ! — 
Two. 

Did you entirely do away those im- 
pressions in two intei'views ? — I believe I 
did. 

With what view did you call upon 
Mrs. Clarke the third time you saw her ? J. 
—In order to procure the insertion of i 
some letters in the Morning Post. 

What was the subject of those letters ? 
— ^The subject of those letters was an- 
swers to the letters of Belisarius. 

Why was it necessary for you to go to 
Mrs. Clarke, to procure the insertion of 
those letters? — Because Mrs. Clarke had 
asked it as a favour of me. 

To do what ?— To get those letters in- 
serted in the Moi-ning Post. 

Do you mean to say that you carried 
those letters to Mrs. Clarke, because 
Mrs. Clarke had desired you to insert 
them in the Morning Post ? — I did not 
carry them to Mrs. Clarke ; I received 
them from Mrs. Clai-ke. 

Then the third time you went to Glou- 
cester-place, you went to get those let- 
ters ?— I did. 

Did you go then of your own accord, 
or by the desire of Mrs. Clarke ? — At the 
desire of Mrs. Clarke, I believe so ; it is 
really so long since, that I cannot say 
whether I volunteered my services to go 
that day for those letters, or whether she 
had appointed that day for me to call for 
those letters ; I did call for those letters, 
and got them inserted in the Morning Post. 

You have stated, that though you did 
not traffic in commissions, you have had 
a hand in procuring commissions at dif- 
ferent times ; had you any dealings of 
that sort with Mrs. Clarke or others, at 
the time Mrs. Clarke lived under the pro- 
tection of the Duke of York ? — I never 
had anv transaction with Mrs. Clarke as 



i; 



to any commission, either direct or indi- 
rect, till this in November, of thi-ee com- 
panies and two majorities. 

In November last, did yon know that 
Mrs. Cla^e was no long'er connected 
with the Commander in Chief? — Mrs. 
Clarke informed me that she had been 
long at variance with the Commander in 
Chief, and never should be connected 
with him again. 

How came you, having that knowledge, 
to apply to Mrs. Clarke for her interest 
for promotions ? — Not with any view to 
her interest with his Royal Highness, but 
Mrs. Clarke had told me that she had 
great interest with members of parlia- 
ment and general officers, that she could 
procure recommendations of the differ- 
ent colonels of the regiments to which 
those gentlemen belonged. 

Were the transactions of which you 
have spoken, the only transactions of the 
kind in which you have ever been con- 
cerned ? — I have answered that question 
repeatedly. 

Have you ever carried on any negotia- 
tions respecting wi'iterships to India, be- 
sides that Mhich has been already men- 
tioned ? — I have. 

How many ? — One. 

In behalf of whom ? — I cannot charge 
my memory who the young gentleman 
was. 

At what time ? — Last year. 

The year 1808 ? — I believe it was ; and 
it was the writership that Mr. O'Hara 
refused ; that same writership. 

Did you succeed in that negotiation ? — 
I did. 

What money was paid in consequence 
of that ? — I do not recollect ? but I be- 
lieve it was 3,5001. 

W"hat did you receive in consequence 
of your exertions in that negotiation ? — 
2501. 

From whom did you receive that mo- 
ney ? — From Mr. Tahourdin. 

To whom was the other sum of three 
thousand and odd pounds paid ? — To Mr. 
Tahourdin, I presume ; but I was not 
present at the receipt of the money. 

Do you now recollect on behalf of whom 
that negotiation v/as carried into effect ? — 
No, I do not ; but I could trace it, no 
doubt. 

With whom did you treat for it ? — I do 
not know the name of the gentleman with 
whom I treated for it ; I did not expect 
J.0 be called upon, and did not charge my 
memory. The gentleman was a stranger 
at the time. 



Have you, or not, been concerned in 
any other transactions of this kind ! — I 
do not recollect any other. 

Are vou certain that jou have not been 
concerned in any transactirons of this 
kind ? — I am not certain ; but I do not 
recollect any other. I do not believe I 
have. 

Are you certain that you have not been 
concerned in any transactions of this 
kind ?— I could almost say I am ; but I 
will not. 

Have you ever had any part in nego- 
tlating a cadetship ? — I do not recollect 
any cadetship that I ever have. 

if j'ou are not in the habit of concern- 
ing yourself in matters of this sort, it is 
very extraordinary that you should not 
recollect; try to recollect whether you 
have had any concern in negotiating for 
cadetships.— I do not recollect ; I may 
have applied, but I do not recollect pas- 
sing anv cadet. 

Do you make a habit of dealing in 
things "of this nature ?— I have made no 
further habit of it than that which I ha\ e 
already stated. 

Have you ever had anj' concern in a 
negotiation for procuring a situation in 
the custom-house ! — Mrs. Clarke inform- 
ed me that she had interest through 
which she could appoint a collector of 
the customs, and sevei-al otliers. I men- 
tioned it to a gentleman, not with a view 
to bring to my own interest at all. 

When was this ? — In November or De- 
cember. Mr. Wardle ctn inform yoiu 

You have stated that j ou concluded a 
negotiation tlu'ough Mr. Tahourdin for a 
writership to India ; endeavour to recol- 
lect the name of the young gentleman 
that was appointed ? — I cannot, for I do 
not know that I ever knew him. 

Cannot you, when you return to your 
office, find out the name and bring it to 
this committee ? — I have no office. 

Cannot you when you return home to 
your own house, look into your books 
and find the name of the young man ? — I 
cannot, for I keep no books ; I am not 
confident that I ever knew the name of 
the young gentleman. 

Have you no memorandiun or slip of 
paper ? — I have none by which I can 
trace it. 

Cannot you ascertain by what director 
the young man was appointed ? — I can- 
not, for I never knew. 

Do you know that any director, who 
takes money for an appointment of this 
nature, breaks his solemn otith which ha 



134 



takes when lie enters into the service of 
t\\e East India Company ? — 1 presume a 
director may dispose of his card for a 
writersliip, or a cadetcy, and it may be 
sold, and the directors know nothing', 
and receive no emohiment, confiding- to 
a g-entleman tiiat he would not suspect 
of doinjj;' so. 

In what year was this ? — It was I be- 
lieve last ye;ir. 

To what presidency was it ?— I do not 
know. 

You have said that you once made an 
application to Mrs. Clarke in favour of 
Mr. Glasse, without the knowledge or 
privity of Mr. Glasse; if the application 
in favour of Mr. Glasse had succeeded, 
by whom w as the money to have been 
given for it ?— Uy me. 

Did you mean to pay it yourself out of 
friendship for Mr. Glasse, without any 
hope of remuneration from iiim ? — I did, 
by the commis..ions which were to have 
been disposed of I intended Mrs. Clarke 
should retain as much out of those com- 
missions as would have paid for that 
situation, provided it could have been 
obtained. 

You meant to make a present to Mr. 
Glasse, to the full amount of the remun- 
eration you were to give to Mrs. Clarke 
for procuring him some deanery, or what- 
ever the church preferment was ? — I did. 

Wiiich of the applications was the first, 
in point of time, for the preferment in the 
church, or for tlie preferment in the 
army ? — The preferment in the army, I 
believe, took place in November ; some 
other situations and arrangements Mrs. 
Clarke had made were previous to that. 

Which preceded, in point of time, the 
application for the captaincies and the 
majorities, or for Mr. Glasse ? — I believe 
that the situations Mrs. Clarke pointed 
out in the West Indies, and the situation 
that she pointed out at home, one was in 
tlie commissariat, I believe, which she 
said she could obtsln ; and the other was 
that of landing waiter. Those were the 
situations she first promised, which she 
said the Duke of Portland was to have 
given to her. Out of those commissions 
it was that she was to have been paid. 

Is the committee to understand that 
those commissions, of which you have 
now been talking, are fresh commissions, 
the advantage derived from wliich was 
to repay the 10001. to be paid for tlie 
deanery of Mr. Glasse ; or is tlie com- 
mittee to understand that the advantage 
proceedinii from the captaincy and the 



majority before-mentioned were to pay 
it ? — From the commissariat ajjpointment 
and the landing waiter ; not from the 
captaincy and majority. 

Then this landing waiter and commis- 
sariat are new appointAients ? — They arc 
new transactions. 

Xot before stated to the committee ? — 
I forgot to state them to the bommittee. 

At the outset of your examination, you 
stated that you never had trafficked, di- 
rectly or indirectly, for an\ places imder . 
go\ernment of any description ? — I never 
carried any into effect. 

The words " carried into effect" were 
not put in ; you have now enumerated 
not less than nine situations for which 
you have carried on negotiations ; you 
also stated, that you tliought tiie crime 
was not so heinous, becavise you knew 
the practice to be daily taking place; 
what practices do you allude to wliich 
you knew were daily taking place ? — The 
disposal of commissions, I believe, has 
been generally reported to have taken 
place ; but I know not any which took 
place which I had no connection or con- 
cern with whatever. 

Do you know of any transactions so 
taking place, with which you had or had 
not concern ? — I have heard of things, 
but do not know of any. 

You do not know, in any way, of such 
transactions having taken place ! — I have 
heard of such transactions. 

Do you know of such transactions ' — 
The transaction of captain Tonyn 1 beg 
leave to mention here ; I must allude to 
that and major Shaw; 1 did not iiiit' " 
stand how either of those were cav 
into effect till last November ; I n. 
knew that Mrs. Clarke was concerned in 
major Shaw's business till lust Nfvomber. 
Captain Tonyn was gazetted si IS j ; 
and Mrs. Clarke, in 18('5, I iniK^rstotd 
V u^ the person who had obtained tliat 
p; otion for major Tonyn. 

iv'.'pendently of that case of major 
To i> ".. there is a case of m.ijov Shaw's, 
of v.i-rh you have heard ?^I heard last 
No\i-niber only. 

D ' » oil know of any other besides ma- 
jor ^liaw and captain Tonyn ? — I do not 
recn'ilt ct any other. 

A \-v \o\i sure you do not knoM of any 
other ' — I do not recollect any other. 

Do you, or do you not know of any 
other ? — I do not know of any other that 
I recollect ; nor do 1 believe that I re- 
colK'CT any other. 

Do you not know of some others ? — I 



135 



know of no otlie.rs, to the best of my 
knowledge ; if I did, 1 would mention it, 
but I do not ; I believe I know of no other 
whatever. 

You have said positively you know of 
no other ? — I believe not. 

You have said once positively you 
knew of no other ; do you say positively 
whether you knew of no other ? — Do you 
mean to say I have been concerned with 
others ? 

Have you been concerned in any other ? 
—Not at all. 

Do you know of any other : — 1 do not, 
to the best of my knowledge : it is impos- 
sible for me to charge my memory ; I have 
told } ou every thing, to the best of my 
knowledge and belief. 

"When you .were asked concerning cer- 
tain custom-house appointments, you said 
that colonel VVardle, an honourable mem- 
ber of this house could tell about them ; 
what can you say of colonel Wardle's 
knowledge of those appointments ? — I 
must refer to Mrs. Clarke for that. 

What lias Mrs. Clarke told you relative 
to that ? — That she could procui'e recom- 
mendations from great people, and she 
mentioned the name of Mr. Wardle also, 
not as the person that would recommend, 
but as the person who knew others that 
she should make acquainted with the 
circumstance. 

Wliat other persons, besides colonel 
Wardlu did she mention as knowing of 
th;-sc matters ! — Not as knowing, for she 
told me, she should tell colonel Wardle. 

You said colonel Wardle amongst o- 
thers, who were the others? — ..She men- 
tioned, that she should acquaint colonel 
Wardle, or mentioned his name upon the 
business. 

Who was the person with whom you 
negociated iA the last transaction to which 
you have alluded, with respect to the 
wj-itership ? — Mr. Tahourdin. 

You stated that it was through him the 
money was paid, was he the only person 
with whom you negociated ; — He was the 
person who jirocured the appointment, 
but from whom I cannot say. 

Was he the only person with whom you 
negociated, or had any concern or dealing 
in this transaction ? — The gentleman 
who obtained the Introduction for his 
young friend, of course I negociated with 
also, as I introduced them together ; Mr. 
Tahourdin and that gentleman, I really 
cannot tell the gentleman's name, for I 
noit 10 wooJ jo 



do not recollect it ; but I dare say Mr. 
Tahourdin would furnish me with his 
name. 

State to the committee whether you 
first applied to Mr. Tahourdin, or Mr. 
Tahourdin to you ? — I did not apply to 
Mr. Tahourdin ; he was recommended to 
me in consequence of a 4etter I had from 
a lady in Dublin to procure a writership 
for Mr. O'Hara. 

Who recommended Mr. Tahourdin to 
you ?— -Messrs. Austen and Maunde re- 
commended him to me. 

Do you know whether that writership 
was the subject of any advertisement in 
the Newspapers ? — Not at all that I know 
of. 

Not being a trafficker in places, but 
yet having a certain tendency to negociate 
them, and to take a pecuniary advantage 
by them, how came you not to apply to 
Mrs. Clarke while she hadan acquaintance 
with his lloyal Hiphness, but to apply 
after that had ceased ; and when her con-^ 
nection with the Dvike of Portland and 
members of this house was a little more 
distant ? — I have already explained that 
business ; it was itverely the eft'ect of 
cliance ; Mrs. Clarke sent for nie, and 
proposed the business to me ; it was not 
the effect of my application. 

At what number in Agryle-street does 
Mr. Ta!)Ourdin live ? — I do not know, but 
his name is upon the door. 

Did Mr. Tahourdin receive the nomina- 
tion of the writership immediately from 
the director, or through the medium of 
a third person } — I never asked Mr. Ta- 
hourdin from whom he procured it, or 
how he procured it. 

Is the lady, who applied to you on be- 
half of Mr. b'Hara, an acquaintance of 
your's ? — She is. 

You have stated, th.at you saw nothing 
of Mrs. Clarke from the middle of the 
year 1806, till last November ; was that 
interruption in your intercourse occa- 
sioned by any difierence that you had to- 
getlier ? — Not the least. 

What was it owing to ? — because I hiid 
no acquaintance with .Mrs. Clarke furthei* 
than I have already stated ; I never saw 
her more than four times previous to her 
separation from his lloyal Highness the 
Duke of York, 

[The witness was directed to withdraw ; 
the chairman was directed to report 
progress, .ind ask leave to sit ag.'un I 



Tuesday, 10th February 1809. 



MR. WHARTON IN THE CHAIR. 



GWYLLYM LLOYD WARDLE, Esq. 
a member of the house, attending 
in his place, was examined as fol- 
lows : 

Arc those the letters Mrs. Clarke 
alludes to in her letter to Mr. Donovan, 
in which she says, " I must be candid 
" and tell you, tliat in order to facilitate 
•' some negociation, I have given him a 
♦* few of your lettAs." — Those are part 
of the letters I had from Mrs. Clarke. 

Are those the letters to which this let- 
ter of Mrs. Clarke alludes ?— It is im- 
possible I can answer that. 

Are those all the letters of Mr. Dono- 
van's you received from Mrs. Clarke ? — 
To the best of my recollection, all, ex- 
cept some letters of Mr. Donovan's that 
apply to the commissions that I examin- 
ed about last night, to bfe backed by a 
member of Parliament. 

Did you obtain the letters of Mr. Do- 
novan all at once from Mrs. Clarke, or at 
different times ? — At different times ; the 
letters I have now given in, I obtained in 
the way I before stated to the house. 

These are part of those which you took 
away without her consent ? — That I took 
away, as I before stated. 

Was it with her consent or against her 
consent, that you took away those let- 
ters ? — I have before stated how I took 
them, I took them from her table : she 
said I must not take them, or must not 
vise them, or something to that effect. 



Mr. JEREMIAH DONOVAN was call- 
ed in, and examined by the com- 
mittee, as foUow^s : 



State whether those letters in tlie 
hands of the clerk are youi* hand-writ- 
ing ? — They are. 

[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

[Letters read, dated the 8th October 
1808, the 20th October 1808, 16th 
J\ovember 1808, 14th December 
1808, and the 23d December 
1808.] 

" Chai-les-street, St. James's-square, 
October 8th, 1808." 
" Dear Madam, 

" The deanery of Herefoi'd is va- 
*' cant, and in the sole gift of the 
" Duke of Portland ; can vou procure 
" it for the Rev. G. H." Glasse ? I 
"would myself, unknown to him 
"give 10001. for it. It must be 
" filled by next Saturday, at least, 
" so a gentleman who has just given 
"me the information, paid. Mr. G. 
" is my most pai*ticular friend, and 
" I would make great sacrifices to 
" serve him ; he is not in town at 
" present. I can with confidence 
" assure you he is a very good scho- 
" lar, a man of good fortune, and 
" an extraordi)iari/ kind fnend, of 
" excellent connections, well known 
" to the Dukes of Cumberland and 
'• Cambridge. He is rector of Han- 
" well, Middlesex. His town house 
"N(J. 10, Sackville-street." 

" The money wdl be deposited 
" on Wednesday next, for the land- 
" ing-waiter's Place. 

" An inspector of the 
" whose duty is rowuig 



customs, 
in a boat - 

I 



137 



" about the river, visiting and plac- 
•' ing officers on board different 
♦• ships, is about to be superannuat- 
*' cd, the salary is 4001. per annum ; 
" I am applied' to for the appoint- 
" ment, on the resignation taking 
" place ; 10001. is ottered for it. 
" Yours very truly, 

"J. Donovan.'* 
" Mrs. Clarke." 

" Charles-street, St. James's-square, 
October 20th, 1808." 

" Dear Madam, 

" Some friends of the Rev, T. 
" Baseley, M. A. are extremely de- 
" sirous of pi'ocuring- for him pro- 
" motion in the church ; and it ap- 
•* pears to them a very favourable 
" opportunity, the vacancy of the 
" deanery of Salisbury, to make 
" application to the Duke of Port- 
" land ; and in order to secure an 
•' interest without his knowledg-e, a 
" party of ladies, at the head of 
" whom is lady Cardigan, have 
*' subscribed a sum of money, 3000 
" guineas, which is ready to be de- 
" posited to carry into execution 
" their intended plan. 

" Mr. Basely is well known to 
"his Grace, and was particularly 
" recommended to her Majesty by 
"lady Cardigan, on the publica- 
" tion of his pamphlet, * The claims 
" of the Roman catholics constitu- 
" tionally considered, &c. &c.' This 
" chaplain to the Duke of Glouces- 
" ter, and the Bishop of Lincoln, 
" went with /lis Grace upon some 
" occasion to serve the marquis of 
" Tichfield ; would be very strongly 
" recommended by many persons of 
" fashion, the bishops of Norwich 
" and Salisbury. I have a letter 
" from each to M. Baseley in my 
" possession, which would shew the 
" estimation in which he is held by 
" them. The ladies are very anxi- 
" ous, and at the same time desir- 
"ous that he should not know 
" through what channel the money 
" is raised, much less the applica- 
" tion, nor do they wish to know 
"any thing further than that he 
*' shall succeed, and then to agree- 
*' ably surprise him : or rather that 
**his Grace, without anj'^ preface, 
" should have the whole merit of 
" having selected so wortliy a man 



" to fill the vacancy. Your answer 
" will oblige, 

"Your's very truly, 

" J. Donovan.'* 
" Lord M. and Mrs. Jn. are in town." 

" Charles-street, St James's-square, 

Nov. 16, 1808." 
" Dear Madam, 
" The place of Inspector of the 
" customs is now vacant by the 
" death of Mr. Booty, and I learn 
" that the Queen and the Duke of 
" Dorset are about to apply for it. 
" I hope you will procuro it for 
" Mr. Henry Tobin, the gentleman 
" you were so good to say you would 
" serve when an apportunity of- 
" fered. I will do myself the plea- 
" sure of waiting on you whenever 
"you will appoint on the subject. 
" Can you procure the paymaster- 
" ship to a second batt. for 5001 ? 

" Your's very truly, 

" /. Donovan.** 
" Mrs. Clarke." 

" Dec. 14, 1808:'* 
" Dear Madam, 

" I regret much that I had not 
" the pleasure to see you on Satur- 
" day evening. It was the only time 
" I had been out since Tuesday, and 
" I have sufFei'ed considerably in 
" consequence, from my wound. 

" I am daily applied to for the 
"particulars of the appoinment at 
" Savannah la marr. Is it a sur- 
" veyor of customs and landing 
" waiter ? Is the salary 1,3001. 
" per annum, or how much is the 
" salary, and from what do the per- 
"quisites arise ! Is the 13001. ster- 
" ing or Jamaica currency ? What 
" is the duty ? Can you procure tlie 
" landing waiter's place in Janu- 
" ary next ? 

" The paymaster second batta- 
" lion ? 

"Relative to the letters, I am in 
" part ready, and wish to consult 
" with you relative to them. I shall 
" be at home this evening, and, if 
" able to bear the motion of a car- 
*' riage, dine in your neighbour- 
" hood to-morrow*. 
" I remain, 

" Dear Madam, 

" Your's very truly, 
" J. Donovani" 
"Mrs. Clarke." 



IS8 



* Charles-street, St James's-square, 

Dec. 23d. 1808." 

" Dear 31adam, 

" I am daily plagued about the 

' Savannah la mai-r appointment ; 

' also respectinfj the landing wai- 

' ter's, the 2d batt. paymaster- 

* ship, and the commissaryship. 
' Pray let me hear from, or see you, 
' on the subject of the Savannah 
' business particularly. 

" Mrs. Howes requested me to 

* thank you in her name for your 
'kindness, and have got into dis- 

* grace for not having done so 
' sooner, and for not letting her 
' know when you call'd last. 

Your's very truly, 
"J. Donovan." 
" Mrs. H. sends her.comp"." 
' Mrsv^Cltf ke." 



DAVID PEIRSON was called in, and 
examined by the committee, as fol- 
lows : 

[The evidence given by the witness on 
the 7th instant, being read.] 

Is there any part of tliat evidence, on 
which you wish to make any observation 
or alteration, or any addition ? — No al- 
teration. On the night tliat the Duke of 
York went to Weymouth, about eleven 
o'clock at night, I was sent out to get a 
bill changed : I went out and got it 
changed, and brought it in, and returned 
it to Mrs. Clarke ; she looked it over, and 
said it was all right. The Duke of York 
was present when I gave the bill to Mrs. 
Clai'ke, and received it from Mrs. 
Clarke. 

With whom have you had any conver- 
sation, respecting the evidence you gave 
when you were here last ? — Not any 
body. 

Have you spoken with nobody about 
it ?— With nobody ; I have not spoken to 
any one about it. 

Have you seen Mrs. Clarke, since you 
gave your evidence here last ? — No, I 
have not. 

Did you see Mrs. Clarke when you re- 
tired from the bar on the former day \ — 
I saw her, but I did not speak to her. 

Did she speak to you ? — She just bow- 
ed her head, and said, " Peirson ;" I 
said, " 1 have been examined Ma'am.'* 

Did she say any thing els© to you ? — 
Not any thing, 



Are you positive that no other person 
has spoken to you on the subject of the 
evidence you gave here, or you to them ? 
— I met Ludowik in the Park, and he 
asked me ; he said that I might be mis- 
taken, -et he could not recollect any 
thing about it. 

Was that all that passed between you 
and Ludowik : It was all that passed be- 
tween him and me, except he Siiid that I 
must make a mistake ; that there was a 
bill brought do\\n one morning, in his 
presence of 101. by Mrs. P'avorite, and 
given to a gii-l to go out and get change ; 
and he thought I must have made a mis- 
take about that bill. 

Did not you make a communication to 
Mr. Wardle, or speukto him, to say that 
jou wished to alter your evidence ? — I 
called upon Mr. Wardle, and lold Mr. 
Wardle about the bill that I received 
from MiS. Clarke, and went and got 
change for, and returned that niglit, in 
the presence of the Duke of York ; I told 
Mr. Wardle that I had done that. 

What was the amount of ihe bill you 
got change for ? — 1 think 1001. but I am 
not certain. 

Do you adliere to your former state- 
ment, that you had spoken to no person 
on this subject since you were ei.amined^ 
m this house ? — I have not spoken to 
any person since I was examined. 

Where did you get that bill changed ? 
— I got it changed at ^Ir. Byfield's and 
Mr. Bridgeman's ; Mr. Bridgeman and 
his wife cltanged it for me, confectioners 
in Vere-street. 

Are B\ field and Bridgeman partivers ? 
— I believe they are. 

Did you try to get that bill changed at 
any other place ? — Yes, I v ent to Mr. 
Stevens's in Bond-street, and tried tliere 
but they could not do ii for me ; they 
sent out, but could not do it for me. 

How long have you left Mrs. Clarke's 
service ? — It is three jears ago now: 

Have JOU seen her frequently since 
you quitted her service ? — I never saw 
her before I saw her at th's house. 

Did not you see Mrs. Clarke in her 
chariot a day or two before you gave 
your evidence at this bar, or or, the very 
day in which you gave your former evi- 
dence ? — The day before she sent for me 
into Baker-street, where slie was in her 
carriage, to ask me, whether ever I had 
changed any bill, or knew any bill 
changed; I said I recollected Mrs. Fan 
vorite giving a bill to Ludowik, and hif 
going and getting the bill chang<id, ane 



1-39 



fringing iL back ftgalu ; and how I had 
taken a bill from her the night the Duke 
of York went to Weymouth, and got her 
change, and brought ifback again ; slie 
asked nie the amount of it, and I coukl 
not tell Iier ; and she said she recollected 
tliat very well. 

Have you made any communication to 
Mrs. Clarke since that period, or do you 
know how it was communicated to her 
that you meant to alter your evidence ? 
—I have not seen or made any inquiry or 
any thing to Mrs. Clarke. 

How do you account for the circum- 
atance, that at your last examination you 
did not recollect the particulars which 
you have now related to the committee ? 
— I had a very bad head-ach, and when 
I have the head-ach it affects my mem- 
ory, that I am very forgetful, and I did 
not think of it; and at the same time, 
when I was asked about the Duke's ser- 
vant, I thought I must not answer, as I 
was Mrs. Clarke's servant ; or I had 
thoughts of it then, but as I was not ask- 
ed, I wished rather to withdraw. 

Are you labouring under that suffering 
at the present moment ? — Not now. 

Then it was not merely from the de- 
fect of memory occasioned by your head- 
ach that you did not state the circum- 
stance on your former exan 'nation ? — 
Yes, it was from that that I did not 
recollect it ; being a stranger, and never 
at the bar before, I did not know what to 
say. 

Did you recollect at that time that you 
were here before, what you have stated ? 
— I had some recollection, but I could 
not tell the sum of the bill, or any thing ; 
but I have since recollected, that I be- 
lieve the bill I changed that night at 
eleven o'clock, was 1001. or there- 
abouts. 

Did you know before you came to the 
bar this evening, that you were to be 
re-examined upon this point ? — No, I did 
not. 

Do you recollect what time of the 
night it was that the Duke of York set 
off' to Weymouth, on the night this was 
changed ? — Near one o'clock in the tnorn- 
ing. 

Did you not know when you were the 
last time at this bar, that you were to tell 
the truth ? — I have told the truth, to the 
best of my knowledge. 

How could you state that you had 
spoken with nobody on the subject of the 
evidence you have given before, when 
vou immediatelv afterwards declared vq(i 

19 ' 



had s^foken both with Mr. Wardle an<l 
Lodowik .' — I did not think what I sa'id 
liien. 

How do you reconcile yoTir memory, 
being so perfect in every other part of 
the transaction, and not so perfect as to 
the amount of the note you got changed ? 
— I am not certain of the amount of the 
note, no further than I think, to the best 
of my recollection, it was 1001. 

Do you know a Miss Taylor ? — I have 
seen her at Mrs. Clarke's. 

Was she frequently at Mrs. Clarke's ? — 
She was frequently at Mrs. Clarke's. 

Was she ever there when the Duke of 
York was there, and in his company ? — 
I believe not, I do not recollect to have 
seen her in his company ; she might have 
been in the house. 

Was she usually part of the society 
when the Duke of York was there ? — I 
never saw her in company with the Duke 
of York. 

Was she very intimate with Mrs. 
Clarke ? — 1 believe very intimate. 

Are your head-achs of such a nature as 
to require medical aid ?— No. 

[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

[The witness was again called in. 3 

What did you understand to be the 
real profession of Miss Taylor ? — I am 
quite a stranger to it. 

Do you ever recollect Miss Taylor 
dining in company with Mrs. Clarke at 
Gloucester-place ? — Yes, I do. 

Did the Duke ever dine there at the 
same time ? — No. 

[The witness was directed to withdraw.] 



[Brigadier General CLA'VERTNG 
having stated to a member of the 
house, that he w^s desirous of 
being examined. 

Brigadier General CLA\'^RtNG was 
called in, and examined by the com- 
mittee, as follows : 

Have you sent a letter to me (the 
Attoi'ney-General) this evening ? — I did 
so. 

Desiring that you might be examined I 
—I did so. 

When did you first know Mrs. Clarke ? 
I believe it was about six years ago ; I 
am not exactly precise as to the date. 

For what purpose did you call at Mrs, 
Cl.trke'? hotrsc recently ■-*-?t vras in con- 



140 



sequence of a report that I heai d, tliat 
every person in town with whom Mrs. 
Clarke had ever had any conversation, 
was to be called before this honourble 
honse for the purpose of pledging to her 
veracity, and I heard among others that 
my name was introduced ; I accordingly 
addressed a letter to an honourable mem- 
ber of this house, colonel Wardle, a copy 
of which letter I have in my pocket, if it 
is necessary to produce it. 

^General Clavering read the letter.] 

" Sir, " 8th Feb." 

" It has been intimated to me, 
" that a letter has been addressed 
" to you b\ Mrs. C. wliich is to be 
*' brought forward before the House 
" of Commons, wherein my name 
" is introduced as being capable, 
" among others, of speaking to her 
" veracity. Should this be tlie case, 
" I am most urgently to request that 
*' my name may be expunged from 
*' the said letter. My testimony, 
" moreover, would mar the very 
** point which she is desirous of sup- 
" porting, since she told me very 
** lately that she was living with Mr. 
*' Mellish ; since, being a family 
*' man, the w^orld would be inclined 
*' to attribute improper motives for 
*' my acquaintance with a lady in 
*' her situation. 

" Being particularly anxious in 
** this business, I wish to have the 
" honour of seeing you upon it ; and 
*' presuming that twelve to-morrow 
" will not be an inconvenient hour, 
*' will wait on you at that time." 

I accordingly, at twelve yesterday, did 
call upon Mr. Wardle, and I stated to 
him tlie purport of the letter which I 
have had the lionour of reading to you ; 
and I furtlier stated, that if it was Mrs. 
Clai'ke's intention to summon me before 
the House, my testimony must certainly 
go to impeach her veracity, because it is 
not above a month since that she abso- 
lutely stated to me tliat she was living 
with a Mr. MelUsh. On my return, after 
leaving colonel Wardle's house, it lay in 
my way to pass by Mrs. Clarke's door, 
and it occurred to me that probably it 
might be a service also to state the same 
circumstance to her ; I called there, and 
she denied herself, and said that she was 
exU'emely ill in bed, but that if I woidd 
call in two hours, she would see me ; I 
replied that it would not be in my power 



to call at tliat time ; she then sent me 
word she was to be seen at home at five 
o'clock, if I called at that time ; I ac- 
cordingly did call about a quarter after 
five, and did not see her : tlie purport of 
it was to infoi'm lier, that if slie did call 
me, I should be under the necessity of 
stating what I have now had the honour 
of stating. 
[The witness was directed to witlidraw. 

[The witness was again called in.] 

Is there any thing else which you wish 
to state to the House ? — If [ may judge 
from the accuracy of what I have heard, 
I understand my name was further 
brought forward last night, as having 
attempted to influence the vote of aii 
honourable member of this House. I de- 
clare, upon my honour, to the best of my 
recollection, I never spoke to that hon- 
ourable person upon the question, and it 
was perfectly unnecessary for me so to 
have done, because the honourable gen- 
tleman always did vote upon the side on 
which he then gave his vote. 

Did you ever represent, that you had 
influenced that person to give his vote 
upon that occasion ? — Never. 

Did you exert yourself to bring up lord 
John Campbell from Scotland, to vote 
upon the licfence Bill, towards the latter 
end of 1805, or the beginning of 1806 ? — 
To the best of my belief and recollection, 
I never wrote to him nor spoke to him 
upon the subject. 

Did you at any time during your ac- 
quaintance witli Mrs. Clarke, promise to 
send her recommendations of any ofii- 
cers ? — Never ; but it will be necessary 
to explain the answer that I gave there 
more fully. About six weeks ago I re- 
ceived a letter from Mrs. Clarke, stating 
her inclination to see me ; I called upon 
Jier, when she informed me she was ex- 
tremely anxious to promote a young man 
who was a lieutenant in the 20tli Regi- 
ment, and that his Royal Highness the 
Duke of York was also anxious he should 
be promoted, and tliat Mr. Greenwood 
was also anxious he should be promoted. 
I was just then returned from abroad. 
She informed me a regulation had been 
lately entered into, that any member 
of Parliament or a general officer wri- 
ting a letter to colonel Gordon, that re- 
commendation would be taken into con- 
sideration immediately ; I informed her 
I was not aware of any such regulation, 
and that pi-evious to my taking any step 
of that kind, as it was totally unknown 



141 



to me, I must know that tlie person was 
adesei'vin^ character. She accordingly, 
about two <iajs afterwards, hiclosed me a 
letter si.Gcned by lieutenant-colonel Ross, 
of the 20th regiment, stating that lieu- 
tenant Sumner, the officer in question, 
was a very deserving character. In order 
to be satisfied that this letter was writ- 
ten by lieutenant-colonel Ross, I went to 
the house of Messrs. Greenwood and 
Cox, and shewed tlie letter to the head 
clerk, wlio informed me that it was the 
signature of colonel Ross ; I afterwards 
informed her that it would be absolutely 
necessary that a proper letter should be 
written to me upon the subject, and as 
she had told me this lieutenant Sumner 
was a nephew to Mr. Sumner, an hon- 
ourable member of this house, I desired 
that this letter should be written by him 
to me. Accordingly a few days after- 
wards I received a letter, which was 
absurd in the extreme, dated from the 
Temple, and dated something sooner ; 
the letter was so extremely absurd, that 
I returned it to Mrs. Clarke, stating in 
my letter, that if slie meant as a joke, it 
was an extremely bad joke, and that if I 
sent to the war-office, it would be very 
badly received ; and I concluded, that I 
was her humble servant. A few days 
afterwards, she sent me another letter, 
signed by this same Mr. Sumner, which 
letter I have in my pocket, but which 
second letter I took no notice of, in con- 
sequence of the extreme absurdity of the 
former. 
(|The letter was delivered in and read.] 

« Sir, 
" My brother 1' Sumner, of the 20th 
" Foot, being desirous of purchas- 
" ing a company in the 79th reg', 
" and having served in the above- 
" mentioned corps with the entire 
" approbation of his commanding 
" officer, (if not in that, in any other 
" old regiment of the line,) I take 
" the liberty of requesting, that you 
" will adopt the necessary steps for 
" promoting his wishes by such re- 
*' commendation of him, to the Duke 
" of York, as his conduct appears to 
" merit ; and you will confer a very 
" great favour on 

" Your most obedient, 
" humble servant, 

" Cha. C. Sumner.'^ 
♦« Temple, Janv 17th, 1809." 
" Brig' Gen' Clavering." 



Did Mrs. Clarke represent to j'ou who 
this Mr. Sumner was, from whom the 
letter came ? — She informed me upon 
my first interview with her, that he was 
a nephew of Mr. Sumner, the member 
for Surrey. 

Were you informed Who the Mr. Sum- 
ner was, who was. supposed to have writ- 
ten that letter ?^— I never was informed 
who the Mr. Sumner was.who wrote that 
letter, but I have been informed tiiis 
evening, that there is no such person m 
existence. 

At cither of the times you called upon 
Mrs. Clarke yesterday, did you leave any 
and wliat message, and \vitj\ whom ! — If 
I mistake not I stated tliat to the hon- 
oiira1)le house before; I left no other 
message tlian that 1 should call at about 
a quarter after five, as she had appointed 
that time for being at home. 

Did the gentleman who was with you, 
leave any message in your hearing ? — • 
Tliere was no person with me. 

At either of the times >. — On the second 
time, I certainly said it was extremely 
extraordinary that she had gone out, 
when she had appointed that time for 
seeing me. 

Did you leave any message purporting 
what was the nature of your visit to her ? 
— I left no message whatever, but that 
whicli I have had the honour of stating. 

I understood you to say, that you im- 
peach the credibility of the testimony of 
Mrs. Clarke, upon the ground that she 
represented herself to be living with a^ 
Mr. Mellish ; did she represent herself 
to you as living with Mr. Mellish tlie 
member for Middlesex ?— Slie did not 
say that he was the member for Middle- 
sex. 

Have J'OU any, and what reason to sup- 
pose that she did not live under the pro- 
tection of a Mr. Mellish !— That which 
passed in this honourable house a few 
evenings past; it was proved that she 
did not live with Mr. Mellish. 

Then I understand you to say, that 
you have no otiier reason for impeaching 
the credibility of the testimony of Mrs. 
Clarke, but the statement that she lived 
under the protection of a Mr. Mellish ? — 
Not any, that I am at present aware of. 

Have you any reason, independent of 
any circumstances that > ou have read or 
heard of, to impeacli her testimony, or 
to consider her not worthy of belief ?— I 
certainly do not conceive her worthy of 
belief, from having imposed upon mc \\\ 



Ui 



the maniin- she had, and from the variety 

of contrary evidence it does appear she 

has delivered before tjiis honourable 

house. 

[The witness was directed to withdraw.] 

[The w;itness was again called in.] 

How has she imposed upon you? — By 
having informed me that she was under 
the protection of Mr. Mellish, which I 
understand not to be the case. 

How do you understand that not to be 
the case ! — From its appearing to have 
been proved to the contrary before this 
honourable house. 

Have you any oth^ reasons whatever, 
than those you have stated, to believe 
that she has imposed upon you ?— None, 
that I am at present aware of. 

Have you not stated in evidence to 
this committee, that she has imposed 
vipon you by stating that there was a 
false letter written to you in the name of 
Sumner ? — If I am correct in my i-ecol- 
lection, I did not state this evening that 
she had imposed upon me on that ac- 
count. 

Have you not stated, that in the case 
of the Defence Bill your name had been 
used, which you denietl to be true .' — I 
stated that I had heard so, but not from 
herself. 

Are you acquainted with Miss Taylor ? 
— If it is the Miss Taylor who has been 
examined before this house, I certainly 
have seen her at Mrs. Clarke's. 

Have you frequently seen her at Mrs. 
Clarke's in Gloucester-place ? — I may 
have seen her probably twice or three 
times. 

Was she there as the friend and com-r 
panion of Mrs. Clarke, when you saw her 
there ? — I certainly believe not, because 
Mrs. Clarke informed me, that she kept 
a boarding-school at Chelsea. 

When she was in Gloucester-place, 
was she not upon a visit to Mrs. Clarke, 
and associating with her, living with her 
for the day ! — That is more than I can 
reply to, not recollecting having ever 
been in Gloucester-place more than 
twice. 

Did you not state that Mrs. Clarke had 
informed you that a regulation existed, 
by which a letter of recommendation of 
an officer, requesting promotion, for- 
warded by a member of parliament, or a 
general officer, would obtain considera- 
tion ; and have you ascertained whether 
such a regulation does exist ? — I certain- 
ly have informed myself, that any appli- 



cation from an honourable member of 
parliament, or from any general officer, 
will always meet with attention at the 
office of his Royal Highness the com- 
mander in chief. 

Is the sense in which you understand 
attention will be bestowed upon a letter 
so sent, the sense in which you under- 
stood the communication you received 
from Mrs. Clarke ?— I really do not un- 
derstand tlie question. 

Do you understand the regulation, as 
you suppose it to exist, to be the same as 
she described it to you I — Certainly not, 
because she gave me reason to under- 
stand, that, during the time I was absent 
abroad on foreign sei'vice, a regulation 
had been issued, and no regulation had 
been issued upon the subject ; I cannot 
say that she absolutely in those direct 
words said so, but she gave me to un- 
derstand it, and I did so understand it. 

In what respect does the representa- 
tion she gave of this regulation, and what 
you understand to be the practice of the 
commander in chief, differ .'—They differ 
most widely, in consequence of no such 
regulation as she informed me of having 
ever been issued ; but it was always un-. 
derstood, that a recommendation from a 
member of this house would be attended 
to, provided the object so recommended, 
on fartlier inquii'y, was found worthy of 
promotion. 

You have stated, that you called at 
Mrs. Clarke's twice recently, to request 
that you might not be culled upon to 
speak to her veracity ; had yon any other 
communication with Mrs. Clarke relative 
to the subject now undergoing the con- 
sideration of this committee ? — I certain- 
ly had another object in view besides, 
that I did not wish my name to be 
brought forward in a case of this kind, 
because the world might naturally ima- 
gine, that, having had any communica- 
tion with a lady of that description, it 
might have been a communication of a 
criminal nature, wliich, upon my honour, 
never did exist. 

Have you no other reason for request- 
ing that you might not be called upon ? — 
None but what I have had the honour of 
stating to this committee. 

You have stated, that you impeach the 
credibility of the evidence of IMrs.Clarke, 
because she told j'ou that she lived under 
the protection of a Mr. Mellish.which you 
think contradicted by the evidence that 
came before this committee ; what reason 
did she give you, or what reasons induced 



143 



you to suppose that the Mr. Mellish she 
alluded to must be the member for Mid- 
dlesex ?— If 1 am correct, I did not say- 
that it was Mr. MelJish the member for 
Middlesex. 

Having' stated that you called twice 
upon Mrs. Clarke, to request that your 
name should not be mentioned, or that 
you should not be called upon to g-ive 
any testimony against her ; what mo- 
tive has induced you to come now to 
give this evidence ? — Because my name 
having appeared in the public papers, 
I was desirous of wiping away the 
imputation which I have already re- 
ferred to. 

Are you acquainted with Mr. Dowler ? 
—I never heard of him, excepting through 
the medium of the public prints. 

Do you recollect having had any con- 
versation with Mrs. Clarke upon poli- 
tical transactions, at the period of 1804 
and 1805 ? — I have no recollection of 
any conversation of the kind, I am cer- 
tain that none of that nature then took 
place. 

No conversation on the subject of 
the debates that were taking place in 
this liouse, and who was likely to vote 
on one side, and who on the other ? — 
I have no recollection of any circum- 
stance of the kind, and I am almost 
positive that no conversation of that na- 
ture ever did take place, as it was a 
business in which I did in no way what- 
ever concern myself. 

Had you any communication whatever 
on the subject of army promotions with 
Sirs. Clarke ?-— I never proposed any 
conversation of that kind, nor do I re- 
collect any having ever existed, except- 
ing at the period I before alluded to, 
when she requested I would recommend 
to the consideration of the Duke of 
York, lieutenant Sumrtfei-, of the 20th 
regiment. 

I understand you then to say, you had 
never at any time any communication or 
conversation whatever with Mrs. Clarke, 
on the subject of army promotions, ex- 
cept in the case of lieutenant Sumner ? 
— Certainly not, as being the subject of 
conversation. 

Had you any incidental conversation 
with Mrs. Clarke upon that subject ? — A 
period of so many years having elapsed 
.since that time, it is impossible to speak 
positively and accurately to a qviestion so 
i'lose as that, but to the best of my belief 
I do not tliink I had. 

Do you ofyou^o^vn knowledge know 



that Mrs. Clarke used her influence in 
favour of any person whatever in the 
army with the Commander in Chief? — I 
do not. 

Do you of your own knowledge know 
of any person that asked her to uso 
her influence with the Commander in 
Chief upon that subject ? — I am not ac* 
quainted with any person that ever did ; 
1 have heard reports of that nature, but 
I cannot bring to my recollection any 
person positively. 

Then you state positively that you do 
not know of any transaction of that na- 
ture ?- None, to my certain know 

ledge. 

Give a direct and positive answer to 
that question.— I do not know of any 
transaction of that nature. 

[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

The MARQUIS of TITCHFIELD, a 

Member of the house attending in 
his place was examined as follows ; 
Will your lordship state every thing- 
you are acquainted with as to an ap- 
plication from the Rev. Mr. Basely to 
the Duke of Portland ?— Mr. Bascley 
called upon the Duke of Portland on 
the 3d of January, not being able to 
see him, left this letter, whicli the ser- 
vant gave to my noble relation ; it i.s 
dated N" 9, Norfolk-street, Grovesnor- 
square. 

[The Marquis read the letter.^ 

" Norfolk-street, Grosvenor-square. 
" My Lord Duke, 

" I wished particularly to see your 
" Grace upon the most private busi- 
" ness, 1 cannot be fully open by 
"letter. The object is, to solitit 
"your Grace's recommendation to 
"the deanery of Salisbury, or some 
" other deanery, for which the most 
"ample pecuniary remuneration I 
" will instantly give a draft to your 
** Grace. 

" For Salisbury three thousand 

"pounds 1 hope your Grace 

•' will pardon this, and instantly com- 
"mit these lines to the flames. 
** I am now writing, for the benefit 
" of administration, a most interest- 
" ing phamphlet. Excuse this opcn- 
" ness ; and I remain your Grace's 
" Most obedient and 
" pbliged servant, 

«' T. Basclev." 



144 



"P. S. I will attend your Grace 
"whenever you may appoint, but, 
"sincerely beg your Grace's secre- 
" cy.» 

Indorsed : 
"Delivered by the writer 
himself to my servant, 
on Tuesday 3 Jan. 1809, 
atB" House, P." 

This letter was delivered by tlie wri- 
ter himself, and is indorsed by the Duke 
of Portland, the 3d of January in the 
present year. Upon i-eceiving tliis letter 
my noble relation, finding that the wri- 
ter of it, was gone, gave particular orders 
that Mr. Baseley never should be admitted 
into his house, and the same day wrote a 
letter to the Bishop of London, of which 
1 have a copy in my hand, inclosing the 
Kote, which I have just delivered in at 
the table." 

[The Marquis read the letter.] 

" Bui-Iington House, Tuesday 
3d Jan. 1809." 
" My Lord, 

•*The person by wliom the note 
*' inclosed was left at my house this 
" morning being possessed, as I un- 
*' derstand, of one if not of two 
"chapels in your Lordship's dio- 
*' cese, I consider it to be incumbent 
" upon me, from the sense I have of 
" the duty owe to the public, as 
" well as from my respect for your 
*' lordship, not to suffer you to re- 
" main uninformed of it ; and I ac- 
" cordingly take tlie liberty of lay- 
" ing it before you. 

" I have reason to believe that the 
"note is M'ritten by the person 
*' whose name is subscribed to it as 
•' I have heretofore received notes 
" or letters from him, the writing 
" of which to the best of ray recol- 
" lection, very much, if not exactly, 
*♦ resembles that of the note en- 
" closed ; and one if not more of 
" which was Avrittcn at my house in 
■ ''consequence of my declining to 
*• see him. The note inclosed, hovv- 
" ever, he brought with him ; and on 
" my desiring to be excused seeing 
" him, he gave it to my servant, and 
" immediately left my house. 

" As I have no copy of the note, 
" I must desire your Lordship to re- 
" turn it to me." 

Indorsed : 
" To the Lord Bishop of London, 

"3d Jan. 1809." 



I do not know whether it is necessary 
I sliould read the letter which my noble 
relation received from the Bishop of Lon- 
don in consequence. f 
[Tlie Marquis read the letter.] 

" Fulham-House, Jan. 5, 1809, 

" My Lord, j 

" It is impossible for me to esr 
■ " press the astonishment and indig- 
" nation which were excited in my 
" mind, by the perusal of the letter 
"which your Grace has done ma 
" the honour of enclosing ; a marfc 
"of your attention, for which I 
"must beg you to accept my bes* 
" thanks. 

" It is too true that this wretched 
" creature Basely has one if not two 
" chapels in my diocese. I hav 
" long known him to be a very we 
" man, but till this insufferable in- 
" suit upon your Grace, I did not^ 
"know he was so completely wick-™ 
"ed, and so totally void of all prin- 
" ciple : and as your Grace is iiv^ 
"possession of the most incon<4 
"testible proofs of his guilt, yoij 
" will, I trust, inflict upon him tlie 
" disgrace and the punishment he so 
" richly deserves. 

" I have the honour to be, 
" With the highest respect, 
" My Lord, 
" Your Grace's most humble 
and obedient servant, 

" £. London.'* 
"Fulham House, 5th Jan. 1809." 

Indorsed : 
" The Bishop of London." 

That is the whole of the transaction. 

Mr. THOMAS PARKER was called in, 
and exanyned as follows : 

Are you furnished with your books of 
accounts ? — I have no more than I had 
3esterday, nor I do not imderstand that 
there is any more ; I was not acquainted 
that I was to attend at the house this 
evening 'till I had the summons, but I 
sent to desire them to let me have all the 
books and papers that had Mrs. Clarke's 
name upon them. 

[The witness was directed to with- 
draw. 



Mr. WILLIAM TYSON was called in 
and -examined by the committee,'a| 
follows : 
Have you got p.ny account of checks o; 

his Royal Highness tlie Duke of Yorld 



I 



145 



that *^ere sent Into your house by the 
Lite Messrs. Birkett of Princes-street ? — 
Not any. 

Have you any notes of hand, or bills ?— 
Not any. 

Have you any memorandum in your 
books of any such bills having passed 
throug-h your house ? — Not to my knovv- 
ledg'c. 

Have you the late Messrs. Birketts's 
accounts at your house ? — Yes, we have. 

Have-you examined those accounts be- 
fore you came here this evening ? — Yes, I 
have. 

Was not the order that you received, 
to, bring those accounts with you.' — It 
was. 

Why did you not comply with that or- 
der ?— I have brought a statement of 
Birkett's checks. 

Had any body spoken to you upon this 
subject before you were served with a 
summons this day ? — No one. 

Do you take upon you to say that no- 
body to your knowledge has been at your 
house upon this subject, within these last 
ten days ? — Not to my knowledge. 

Are you a partner in tlie house ? — I am 
not. 

Why was it you did not comply with 
the order of the house. 
[The order was delivered in and read.] 

You have stated, that you have a list 
of checks with you, what is that list ? — In 
the j'ear 1803, October 7, Parker and 
Birketts draft payable to Clarke or bear- 
er for 1201. ; in the year 1804, April 26, 
payable to Clarke or bearer 501. ; August 
11, payable to Clarke or bearer 701. ; 
September 15, payable to Clarke or bear- 
er 501. ; in the year 1805, March 13, pay- 
able to Clarke or bearer 3641. — That was 
the whole I saw payable in the name of 
Clarke. 

Whose checks are those; by whom 
are they drawn ?— The first four I believe 
•were drawn by Parker and Birketts; 
the remaining one by Birketts and Dock- 
ery. 

You have stated that you have examin- 
ed Messrs. Birketts' account, and find in 
that account no checks whatever by his 
Royal Highness the Duke of York, as 
kaving passed through your hands ?— My 
instructions were to !fee what checks 
were drawn by Birketts and Dockery in 
favour of Mrs. Clarke, which 1 have 
done. 

Do you happen to know that any bills 
vere ever left at the banking-house of 
Marsh and Company bv Messrs. Birkett, 



in which Mrs. Clarke's name appears to 

have been the drawer or the acceptor .' 

I have no knowledge of any. 

[The witness was directed to withdraw.] 

COLONEL LORAINE was called in, and 
examined by the committee, as fol- 
lows : 

Did you hold any situation in the Com- 
mander in Chief's office, at the time when 
colonel French's levy was first institut- 
ed ?— I did. 

_ What situation did you hold a-- that 
time ? — Assistant Military Secretary. 

State what you know respecting colo- 
nel French's appUcation to be permitted 
to raise a levy of men at that time ?— It 
came in the usual course of office and 
passed regularly through the office, and 
was examined as all things of that kind 
are, and every pains taken to ascertaia 
whether it was a levy that would answer 
the purpose or not. 

Did the application of colonel French 
come to the office in writing, in the first 
instance ? — It did. 

Can you produce that writing ? — These 
are the terms which were produced i» 
the first instance. 

[The terms were read.] 

What was done upon this proposal ? — 
It appeared to have lain by for some 
time, and colonel French wrote another 
letter. 
[Note was read, dated March 5th 1804. 

What situation did colonel Clinton hold 
at that time ? — Military Secretary to the 
Commander in Chief. 

Was any answer sent to that note by 
colonel Clinton ?— To the best of my re- 
collection when this note came to the of- 
fice it was sent to me, and I was desired 
to examine the terms that were offered by 
colonel French. At that time I was in 
the habit of consulting and communicat- 
ing with general Hewitt, who was then 
inspector general of the recruiting ser- 
vice, and I shewed the terms to him, and 
he desired that colonel French might be 
referred to him ; in consequence of th.at, 
a reference was made, which I believe 
will appear by the correspondence. 

[A letter read, dated Horse Guards, 
7 March 1804. 

Do you recollect what was the next 
step taken upon this proposal * — As far 
as I i-ecollect, colonel French applied to 
general Hewitt, as directed ; and general 
Hewitt of course examined tlie terms that 
he proposed, and modelled them as lie 



146 



thought fit for the Commantler in Chief's 
consideration ; and after it had gone 
through the whole of the regular course 
in the office, the letter of service was is- 
sued hy the Secretary at War, which is 
usual in those cases. 

Is there any letter of March 20th ! — 
Yes, there is ; colonel French made va- 
rious representations with I'egard to his 
levy, before it was finally settled. 

Can you, by referring to those papers, 
give any account of those different appli- 
cations ? — There is one representation of 
the iJOth Mai'ch, which I hold in my 
hand. 

Is there one of the 18th or 20th of 
April ? — Thei-e is a copy of a letter from 
colonel Clinton of the ISth of April, re- 
turning the proposals, with the Comman- 
der in Chief's remarks thereupon. 

[The Letter was read. 3 

The proposals in short, after having 
been referred to General Hewitt, were 
accepted with certain alterations, whicli 
appeared in red ink in tlie margin of that 
paper ? — They were. 

Are you aware of any other alterations 
that took place in the course of the levy, 
and how were they introduced, if any ? 
— ^To the best of my recollection, the 
bounty was raised at two different times 
during tliat levy, because the bounties 
to the regiments of the line had been in- 
creased. 

Are there any letters among those 
papers which give an account of that cir- 
cumstance ? — Unless I had time to look 
over the whole papers, I do not know that 
I could speak to it. 

Is the course of office, after the levy is 
approved, to send it to the Secretary at 
War ?— It must necessarily go to the 
Secretary at War, because it is by him 
tliat the letter of service is issued. 

Were you in office in April 1805 ? — I 
was. 

Will you see whether tliere is any let- 
ter of the 16th Api-il 1805, from the Com- 
mander in Chief to the Secretary at War ? 
—There is. 

[The Letter was read.] 

Subsequent to thatletter^ do you recol- 
lect any application from Messrs. Frencii 
and Sandon, proposing some alterations 
in this levy ? — Yes, I have a proposal of 
the 20th April. 

What is the effect of tliat proposal ? 
—They proposed that a certain number 



of officers should be employed in th? 
levy, of a diffiirent description from 
what they had before ; that appears to 
be the drift of it, and also a change 
with regard to the non-commissioned i 
officers. J 

Was there any answer to that letter? — <■■ 
There was, of the 25th April 1805, a let- 
ter from colonel Gordon. 

[The Letter was read.] t 

I 
What situation do you now fill ? — ^I am )t 

one of the commissioners for the affairs a 

of barracks. 

Wluat situation did you hold before you 
were a barrack commissioner ? — I was 
lieutenant-colonel of the 91st regiment, ! 
and assistant military secretory to the 
commander in chief. 

How long were you assistant military 
secretary to the commander in chief ?— 
About seven years. « j 

What was your rank in the army when 11 
you first became assistant military se- ^! 
cretary I — Major of the 9th regiment of 
foot. 

Did you ]Dur chase the lieutenat-colo- 
nelcy ? — I did not. 

Did you ever join your regiment as aj 
lieutenant-colonel? — Never: when my || 
regiment was ordered on service, I twice 
offered to join my regiment, and the com- 
mander in chief did not accept either of 
my offers, saying I must remain in my 
present situation, meaning at the horse 
guards ; after this, I did not think that 
it would be becoming in me to offer 
again, because it might appear that I was 
volunteering my services, when I knew 
my services would not be accepted ; and 
I beg leave to add, that before I came to 
the horse guards, I had been 22 years in 
the service, and constantly with my regi- 
ment ; and therefore I did not think that 
I was so peculiarly called upon, as per- 
haps a young man who had never seen 
any service. 

Arc you now in the army ?— In conse* 
quence of having served 29 years, when 
I accepted of a civil situation in the bar- 
rack department, his Majesty was gra- 
ciously pleased to allow me to retain the 
rank I now hold, but that rank is not to 
be progressive. 

Did you sell your lieutenant-colonelcy ? 
—I did. 

At what pi'ice ? — I know of no other 
price but the regulated price allo>\red by j 
his Majesty. 

Where have vou served ?— I served four 



i4.r 



campaig-ns ilurin.'j;' the American War, in 
America ; 1 l\:ivc- served between five and 
six years in the West Indies ; during- that 
period I served with the late lord (^rey 
at tiie capture of tlie 1^-encli West India 
Islands ; and I have served on tne Con- 
tinent ot" Europe. 

Did colonel French's levy go' tlirough 
all the ordinary statues in the office ; w'as 
there any tiling' irregular or out of the 
v.ay in the manner in vvliicli it was pro- 
posed or adopted ? — It went throug-h the 
rcg-ular course of office, and if I may be 
allowed to say it, I think it was more 
hardly dealt with than any other levy at 
that time g^oin,^ on, and for this reason, 
that grneral flevritt, who was inspector 
general of tlie recruiting- service, had a 
great prejudice ag-ainst any officer that 
he considei-ed a recruiter. 

Were the difl'ercnt a]Dplications refer- 
red to general Hewitt before they were 
accepted ! — I invariably laid every thing 
of the kind before g-eneral Hewitt that 
came into my hands ; as I had constant 
communications with him, it was impos- 
silde to find any opinion so g-ood as his 
upon that subject. 

Were the sug-g-estions of gener.al Hewitt 
in the alterations that he proposed, adopt- 
ed by the Commander in Chief ? — To the 
best of my recollection, almost always in 
those cases. 

Do you remember in the course of those 
pi'oceedings, any alterations proposed by 
g-eneral Hewitt that were not adopted ? 
— I cannot exactly recollect that, but the 
whole of the proposals were modelled as 
far as possible according- to his wishes 
and opinions. 

Is general Hewitt now in the kingdom ? 
—•He is not ; he is Commander in Chief 
in the East Indies. 

Do the papers in your hands contain 
every written communication whicli has 
passed upon the subject of colonel 
French's levy in the Commander in 
Chief's office ? — It is impossible for me 
to answer that question, not being now 
in the office, and having had no inter- 
ference or hand at all in looking over 
these papers. 

Then you are not able to state that 
these are the whole of the communica- 
tions upon this subject ! — No. 

[^The witness was directed to withdr.aw. 

-Mr. JEREMIAH DONOVAN was called 
in, and examined by the committee, 
as follows : 

20 



Did you know major Tonyn, of the 
31st regiment ? — I did. 

Kelate what you know respecting major 
Tonyn's promotion from the 48th regi- 
ment to the majority of the 31st. — I 
believe it was about the montli of JNlurch 
1804, that captain Sandon called upon 
me, and told me that he had an opportu- 
nity of promoting a gentleman to a ma- 
jority ; if I knew of any gentleman who 
had claims tiiat would entitle him to it, 
he could forward tlie promotion. I mon- 
tioncd this circumstance to captain 
Tonyn, who was a very old officer, I be- 
lieve- he had served about 23 years. The 
terms upon which he was to obtain that 
promotion, as far as I can recollect, was 
5001. Captain Tonyn waited for some 
lime, and he became impatient. I believe 
about the montli of May or June, lie 
said, as there were a number of Field 
Officers to lie promoted, he considered, 
as he had not obtained that promotion 
through captain Sandon, in the mean 
time he should withdraw his name from 
captain Sandon, and take his chance in 
the i-egular line of promotion : in conse- 
quence of which I immediately waited on 
captain Sandon, and apprized him of it. 
Captain Sandon requested that he might 
be introduced to captain Tonjn ; he 
was. Captain Sandon argued with him, 
and told him that it was in consequence 
of his recommendation that he would be 
gazetted. Captain Tonyn, on the con- 
trary, said, that his father, general 
Tonyn, had recommended him for a ma- 
jority ; and that as he understood a vast 
number of captains were to be promoted 
to majorities on the augmentation, he 
certainly should be promoted without the 
interest of captain Sandon ; however, 
they agreed upon some terms ; what they 
were I do not know, I had notiilng to do 
further with the pecuniary transaction, nor 
did I know till the -May twelvemonth fol- 
lowing, the year 1805, how it was that 
major Tonyn obtained that promotion. 

What did you know in the year 1805, 
to which that refers ? — I knew that major 
Tonyn was promoted. 

Is that all you know ? — But major To- 
nyn's promotion came out in the general • 
promotions of augmented field officers. 

Is tliat all you know ; — That was all I 
knew till the year 1805. Major Topyn, 
I believe, was gazetted in August 1804, 
and then, to my astonishment, I was in- 
formed by Mrs. Clarke that she was the 
person who had obtained that promo- 
tion. 



148 



Do you know wlictlier the 5001. vas 
lodg-cd upon the first ag-reenicnt in the 
hands of any pai-ticuk4r person ; — Tlie 
money, I believe was not lodg'cil in the 
hands of any person m the first agree- 
ment. 

Do you know whether any money was 
lodged prior to tlie gazetting of major 
Tonyn ? — I did not know that any morley 
was lodged prior to the gazetting of Ma- 
jor Tonyn. 

Do you know whetlier any money upon 
that communication was lodged at all or 
not ? — I do not know tliat any money was 
lodged previous to that period. 

I do not ask previous to any particular 
period, but do you know tliat any sum 
of money was lodged with any body on 
that account ? — There was no sura of 
money lodged on that account ; but, I 
believe, a gentleman had undertaken to 
pay captain Sandon the sum of money, 
which I understand was paid to captain 
Sandon ; but I do not know it. 

Do you know who that gentleman 
Avas ? — I do. 

State wlio he was.- — Mr. Gilpin. 

Who was ISIr. Gilpin ?- — An army 
clotliier, and agent to the 48th Ucgi- 
ment. 

Do you know at what period this sum 
was lodged with Mr Gilpin ? — I do not 
know that any sum wiis lodged with Mr. 
Gilpin; Mr. Gilpin, ] believe, undertook 
to pay the money. 

Do you know that Mr. Gilpin did pay 
the money ?- — I do not, further than hav- 
ing been told so. 

Do you know of your own knowledge 
who did pay that money i- — I do not, nor 
w Jun it was paid, nor how it was paid. 

Who told you ?-— Mrs. Clarke. 

What did Mrs. Clarke tell you ? — She 
told me tliat she had received a sum of 
money for the promotion of captain 
Tonyn to a majority in the 31st regiment. 

Did Mrs. Clarke tell you what sum of 
money it was ?- — 1 do not exactly recollect 
what sum it was. 

Arc you positive that you cannot re- 
collect what sum it was r- — I am. 

Did Mrs. Clarke tell you from whom 
she had received that sum ? — She told me 
she had received that sum, whatever it 
was, from captain Sandon. 

You have stated, that captain Huxley 
Sandon told you that he had the power of 
getting promotion ? — He did. 

State what passed upon that subject, 

as nearly as you can recollect, between 

* captain Huxley Sandon and yourself.-— 



Captain Huxley Sandon told me that Jie 
had the power of obtaining promotion 
through some gentleman, a friend of 
his ; but captain Huxley Sandon never 
told me wiio the person was through 
whom he did obtain the promotion, until 
I met him and conversed witli him upon 
this subject, in tlie room where the wit- 
nesses had been waiting near tliis house. 

State who that person was, wliom 
captain Huxley Sandon named this night. 
— Mrs. Clarke. 

State whether captain Huxley Sandon 
has ever stated you his power of pro- 
moling ofiicer.s, independent of this one 
circumstance of captain Tonyn.— At the 
same time he mentioned to me ; that he 
could promote lieutenants to companies ; 
I think captains to majorities ; majorities 
to lieutenant-colonels ; and, in the first 
instance he told mc, it was in conse- 
quence of the new levies that were to be 
raised, or some augmentation to the 
army. 

Did captain Huxley Sandon ever speak 
to you about other promotions, uncon- 
nected with those new levies ? — He never 
spoke to me as to any other pro- 
motions than those I have mentioned 
now ; I was imposed upon by the suppo- 
sition, that it was new levies, or an aug- 
mentation to the army. 

You do not of your own knowledg"e 
know of any other transaction of the na- 
ture in which captain Huxley Sandon 
was concerned r — I believe that a major 
Shaw applied, and that I left his papers 
in the hands of captain Sandon ; but he 
could not obtain the promotion for ma- 
jor Shaw. 

What was the promotion major Shaw 
wanted 1 — Permission to purchase a lieu- 
tenant-colonelcy, or to get a lieutenant- 
colonelcy without purchase, by pa^^ing a 
sum of money for it. 

And major Shaw did not establish that 
wish ? — Not through that channel. 

Through what other channel did he 
establish it ! — Major Shaw's papers were 
delivered back to me, and returned to 
major Shaw. I believe they were brought 
to me by a Mr. Macdougall, as I recol- 
lect, and I believe they were returned to 
Mr. Macdougall. Some time afterw^ards, 
Mr. Macdougall asked me, if I could pro- 
cure that promotion for Colonel Shaw. 
A lady had called upon me, and said, that 
she had an opportunity of promoting ma- 
jor Shaw's wishes. 

Wlio was that lady ? — Mrs. Hovenden, 

Where does Mrs. Hovenden reside at 



149 



present ? — In Villiers-street, York-build- 
i ng-s. 

At what number ?— At No. 29. 

Was that lady at the house with 3'ou 
the other night ] — She was. 

Is major Shaw now at the Cape of 
Good Hope ? — I really do not know, but 
I understood he got the promotion, and 
went to the Cape of Good Hope. 

State whether, through the medium of 
tliis lady you have named, any other pro- 
motions have been eftecled in tlie armj' ? 
— Not to my knowledge ; it may be ne- 
cessary to explain the business of major 
Shaw, because it was not through tliat 
introduction at that period that major 
Shaw obtained that. 

Was this the only circumstance of the 
sort that was carried throug-h the medi- 
um of that lady ? — I know not of any that 
was carried, not even of that. 

Do you know of any that through her 
medium was attempted ? — I have heard 
her saj- that some were attempted, but I 
cannot say what they were. 

You do not know that any money was 
lodged, upon captain Tonyn's attempt at 
promotion ? — I do not : I have already 
explained that Mr. Gilpin, I understood, 
undertook to pay it, but that no money 
was lodged. 

You have stated, that captain Sandon 
informed you that he had the means of 
promoting lieutenants to companies, cap- 
tains to majorities, and majors to lieu- 
tenant-colonelcies ; in consequence of 
that information, did you negotiate such 
promotion ? — I did not negotiate any. 
promotion through captain Sandon, ex- 
cept that of major Tonyn, by introduc- 
tion. 

Were you to receive any remuneration 
for that introduction ? — I was. 

What wei'e you to receive ? — Twenty- 
five pounda. 

Did you receive it ?— I did. 

Have you, since you were last examin- 
ed, recollected any negotiation which 
you carried on for promotions in the 
army, besides those wliich you mention- 
ed in your last examination ? — I have 
never thought of any. 

Are you now certain that those were 
the only ones iu which you ever engaged ? 
— I am not certain. 

You have stated, that you learnt from 
Mrs. Clarke, in the yeai- 1805, that she 
had received 5001.? — No, 1 do not know 
the sum exactly. 

That she had received a sum of money 



in consequence of inajor Tonyn's promo- 
tion ; at what time of the year did you 
receive that information ? — It was in the 
month of May, 1805 ; major Tonyn had 
been gazetted in August, 1804. 

Where was it you received that infor- 
mation from Mrs. Clarke ! — At Mrs. 
Clarke's house in Gloucester-place. 

On what occasion were you at Mrs. 
Clarke's house at Gloucester-place ? — 1 
was there in consequence of a report 
which had been circulated, that I was tlve 
author of some scurrilous paragraphs 
against his Royal Highness the Duke of 
York. I had traced my inibnnation to 
Mrs Clarke, and from her I traced it to 
captain Sutton, but not the first time I 
saw her, and that was the reason 1 wait- 
ed on Mrs. Clarke ; I had no other intro- 
duction but that. 

Did you receive that information at 
yo\u' first visit, or your second visit, or 
your third visit ? — \t my second visit, as 
near as I can recollect. 

Do you recollect any other conversa- 
tion tiiat passed between you and Mrs. 
Clarke at that second visit ? — I do not 
recollect the conversation : it was not of 
any consequence. 

bid any conversation pass respecting 
promotions in the army ? — I do not re- 
collect that any conversation passed re- 
lative to promotions in the army at that 
time ; it might be so. 

Do you recollect that any such conver- 
sation passed at any other time ? — I be- 
lieve on the third visit. 

What was that conversation ? — That 
Mrs. Clarke had been the means of pro- 
moting major Tonyn. 

You have stated, that you received 
that information at your second visit ? — I 
am not certain whether it was at the se- 
cond or the third ; I do not say it was 
absolutely the second ; but I believe it 
was : I had no expectation of being call- 
ed upon, and therefore I made no minutes 
or memorandum of it. 

Are you certain any conversation took 
place respecting major Tonyn at the 
third visit ?— I am not certain whether it 
did or not ; 1 know it did not on both 
meetings. 

You have slated, that in your second 
visit to Mrs. C<;irke, no conversation took 
place about military promotions, except 
th.at of major Tonyn ; did any such con- 
versation take place at any other time > 
— I believe it did, relative to major 
Shaw. 



150 



Xever as to any case but that of major 
Tonyn and major Shaw ? — Not in wliich 
I was concerned. 

Are you sure you were never concern- 
ed in any other ? — 1 am not sure. 

Did Mrs. Clarke at any time inform 
you whether his Royal Hig-hness the 
Duke of York know any tiling- of the 
transaction of major Tonyn's promotion ? 
— Mrs. Clarke never informed me of his 
Royal Ilighness's having- known anything' 
of it, till November last. 

What did she state to you in Novem- 
ber last ? — She mentioned, among;st a 
number of other things, that slie had 
been extremely ill vised b}^ his Royal 
Highness the Duke of York ; that in con- 
sequence of that, unless his Royal Hig-h- 
ness did that which was rig-lit towards 
her, she would publish the wliole of tlie 
transactions which had passed relative 
to promotions during the time she lived 
with his Royal Highness. 

But not relative to major Tonyn's ? — 
ICot particularly to major Tonyn's. 

Did Mrs. Clarke ever inform you that 
she had mentioned to his Royal Highness 
the Duke of York, that she had received 
a sum of monej' on account of major To- 
nyn's promotion ? — Never till then, the 
month of November last ; on the contra- 
ry, when I visited her in Gloucester- 
place, in the first instance, she, so fai* 
from mentioning his Royal Highness be- 
ing privy to it, was so alarmed at my 
name being announced as a friend of 
major Shaw, or any other person, that 
major Shaw got his papers back imme- 
diately, gave Mrs. Hovenden 101. for 
them, and said he would have done with 
aMrs. Clarke, for that my name had pre- 
vented his promotion taking place ; and, 
in consequence of that, I had no more to 
do with major Tonyn in his promotion, 
which I understood took place about 
twelve months afterwards, nor did I ever 
see him but once since, on Ludgate- 
HiU. 

What did Mrs. Clarke say, in Novem- 
ber last, on tlie subject of major Tonyn ? 
—I have mentioned what she said of ma- 
jor Tonyn, that she had received a sum 
of money, which she should publish, 
among a number of other circumstances, 
unless his Royal Highness did- that by 
her which she thought he ought to 
do. 

What sum ? — The sum which she had 
received for major Tonyn's promotion. 

And that she had informed the Duke 
of York of it I — No, never. 



You liavc said, that General lOnvii re- 
commended his son for promotion i — I 
liave said, that major Tonyn informed 
me that General Tonyn had recommend- 
ed him. 

Do you know how long captain Tonyn 
had had tlie rank of captain in the army r 
— I believe nine or ten years. 

Can you tcU, in the course of your bu- 
siiiess, whether you do not know that 
that is a very long period for an officer 
to remain in the rank of captain before 
he gets to the rank of major ? — I under- 
stand, that a captain of ten years stand- 
ing is entitled, and generally I'eccivcs 
the brevet of a major. 

Are you certain that it was not by bre- 
vet he got his rank ? — I believe it was by 
augmentation, and not by brevet, for he 
was appointed to tlie 31st regiment ; had 
it been liy brevet, he would have contin- 
ued in the 48th. 

Have you not stated, that in your in- 
terview with Mrs. Clarke in November 
last, slie informed you his Royal High- 
ness was acquainted with the circum- 
stance of money given for captain To- 
nyn's promotion ? — She said that she 
shotdd publish it, but she did not tell me 
tliat his Royal Highness was acquainted 
with it. 

Was that in Gloucester-place that you 
saw Mrs. Clarke in November last ? — No, 
it was in Bedford-place. 

[The following Question and An- 
swer were read over to the w'it- 
ness :] 

" Q. Did Mrs. Clarke ever inform 
you, that she had mentioned to his 
Royal Highness the Duke of York, 
that she had received a sum of mo- 
ney on accoimt of major Tonyn's 
promotion ? — A. Never till then, the 
month of November last." 

Jifr. Donovan. — That is not what I 
mean to say. 

Chairman. — State how you wish that 
answer to be taken down. — No ; in No- 
vember last Mrs. Clarke tskl me, that if 
his Royal Highness did not do that which 
was right by her, she would publish the 
case of major Tonyn with many others. 

Did she, in November last,communicatc 
to you that she had informed his Royal 
Highness the Duke of York of her having 
taken a sum from major Tonyn ? — She 
did not ; she only threatened to publish 
that, with many other cases. 



151 



T uiulcrstancl you to have said, she was 
cxtreinely anxious tliat it should not 
come to the eai-s of the Duke of York, 
when you saw .AJrs. Clarke in Glouccs- 
ter-phice ; is that so ? — It is. 

What reason did she g'ive foi* that .anx- 
iety ?— She said, that if his Royal A'lg-h- 
ness the Duke of York should know of 
h.er having' received any money for mili- 
tary promotions, that she sliould be dis- 
gi'aced, and the officer would lose his 
commission. 

You £cre sure, upon your recollection, 
that that was the i-eason which was as- 
sig'ned ? — I am. 

When captain Sandon stated to you, 
that he had the means of obtaining- pro- 
motions through almost all the gradations 
of the army, did he state to you any par- 
ticular terms upon which those promo- 
tions were to be had ? — I recollect that 
he said, for a majority five hundred gui- 
neas ; but I do not recollect that he 
stated the particulars of every commis- 
sion. 

Had you any reason, either at the time 
or afterwards, to consider capt. Sandon, 
in that business as the agent of Mrs. 
Clarke ? — Never, till Mrs. Clarke her- 
self told me so. 

Did you visit Mrs. Clarke, in No- 
vember last, by her own solicitation .' — 
It was by her own solicitation. 

You have stated, tliat she used certain 
tlu'eats, unless conditions were agreed to ; 
what terms did she state to be the terms 
of her forbearance ? — Vhe payment of 
her debts, and the settlement of an an- 
nuity. 

Did she apply to you, to participate in 
carrying those threats into execution ? — 
She did. 

To what extent ? — I am afraid I should 
be obliged to implicate many persons, 
vith whom she took very great liberties, 
in mentioning their names, as persons 
who were in fact instigating her to these 
acts. 

State what Mrs. Clarke said to you, "to 
induce you to participate in that business. 
— Mrs. Clarke said that the Duke of 
York, unless he came to these terms, 
must be ousted from his command ; that 
he would then retire to Oatland, where 
he would soon cut his throat ; that was 
her expression 

Was that all that passed ? — I endea- 
voured to prevail upon her to inform me 
who were her associates in the plot : her 
answer. was, that if I would go with the 



tide, she would provide for me and my 
fiiends very handsomely, for in that case 
slie would have a carte blanche, that 
would enable her to do more business 
than she ever had done : that was her 
expression. 

Did she state to you Mho were her as- 
sociates in this plot, as you term it ? — 
She said that she was bound to secrecy, 
though she longed to inform me ; that 
was her expression. 

Then how could you implicate others, 
if she did not inform you who they were ? 
— There was one or two persons wliose 
name she mentioned as having offered her 
money for some papers. 

Who were they ? — One was Sir Francis 
Burdett ; she said that Sir Francis Bur- 
dett, about eighteen months before, had 
offered her 40001. for the papers, but that 
she would not then take less than 10,0001. 
I did not believe her. 

AVho were the other ? — I do not wish 
to mention. 

[The chairman directed the witness to 
answer the question.] 

There was but one more ; I do not 
choose to mention the other person. 
[The chairman informed the witness, it 
was the sense of the committee he 
must answer the question.] 

It was captain Dodd that she men- 
tioned as the other person who wished to 
get the papers from her. 

How was this to be carried into execu- 
tion ? — She did not inform me. 

You have stated, that if you gave 
names, you must implicate a number of 
people ; how much further do you mean" 
to g-o with the names, to make out a 
number of people ? — 1 do not mean to go 
any further. 

The following words of the wit- 
ness, in a preceding part of the 
examination was i-ead :] 
" I am afraid I should be obliged 
" to implicate many persons with 
" whom she took very great liber- 
"ties, in mentioning their names, as 
" persons who were in fact instigat- 
" ing her to these acts." 

Do j'ou mean that two constitute the 
mawy you spoke of ? 

[The witness referred to a paper.] 

What is that paper to which you arc 
referring? — ^lemoi-andum's. 



152 



Do you mean that two constitute the 
many you spoke of ? — Two cannot con- 
stitute many. 

Then name the others. — I am in an 
error in that in mentioning man}'. 

What terms, or what consideration did 
she inform you captain Dodd had offer- 
ed for the papers ? — She did not mention 
what lie had offered for the papers, but 
that he had wished to possess the 
papers. 

Do you know what situation captain 
Dodd is in ? — I do not. 

Does he hold any official situation 
that you know of ? — I believe he does. 

what is it ! — I do not know what it is 
that he holds, but I believe he holds some 
official situation under his Royal High- 
ness the Duke of Kent. 

Do you, of your own knowledge, know 
of any other persons concerned in this 
transaction ? — I do not ; I do not know 
that they are, further than the report of 
Mrs. Clarke ; nor do I believe it. 

You referred to some memorandums ; 
why did you refer to tliem, and what do 
they contain ? — They contained some 
notes taken at different periods ; I be- 
lieve the best way will be to read the 
whole. 

£The witness was directed to withdraw. 

Captain HUXLEY SANDON was called 
in, and having been informed by the 
chairman that he was to answer to 
such facts as were within his own 
knowledge, and not to those facts 
which he was acquainted with only 
from hearsay, was examined by the 
committee, as follows : 
Did you know major Tonvn ? — Yes, I 
did. 

State what you know respecting his 
promotion from the 48th to the majority 
of the 31st regiment. In an interview 
with Mrs. Clarke, she asked me if I had 
any military friends that wished for inte- 
rest ; if they had money, she thought she 
could get them promoted. At that pe- 
riod I did not know any body ; but meet- 
ing with Mr. Donovan the next day, I 
asked him if he had any friends ; he said 
yes, there was a gentleman in town that 
he thought would give a sum of money 
for a step ; I asked him what sum he 
would give; he said he thought he would 
give five hundred guineas. I spoke to 
Mrs. Clarke upon the subject, and she 
sud, by all tieans close with him. When 
I saw Mr. Donovan, I told him that I 
thought I could procure his friend the 



step that he wished for ; upon which he 
produced a memorandum, signed by a 
Mr. Gilpin of the Strand, for the sum I 
have mentioned, whenever he should ap- 
pear in the London Gazette, gazetted as 
a major. I believe -t was near upon two 
months or ten weeks, I suppose it might 
be two months, when captain Tonyn, for 
I never had the honour of seeing captain 
Tonyn before that period, got tired that 
his promotion did not appear ; he desired 
Mr. Donovan to call upon me, to say, 
that if I could not get the business finish- 
ed, I had better retiu-n him his memo- 
randum. I waited upon Mrs. Clarke, ,, 
and told her what Mr. Donovan had said. ' i 
She said that he was a shabby fellow, t 
that he was ver)- much in haste, but that 
if he would wait quietly, she dare say it 
would be done, and desired me to say 
that lie had better wait a little. How- 
ever, the next day I met Mr. Donovan, »■ i 
and I told him tlie interest thatwehad'TJI 
to procure the majority ; had informed 
me that they had better wait alittle. Mr. 
Donovan said, I am instructed by cap- 
tain Tonyn to say, you must give up your 
security immediately, for we are pretty 
clear, or at least I am pretty clear, you jL I 
cannot get him g-azetted ; and another- j' 
tiling general Tonyn has spoken to the 
Commander in Chief, and he has pro- 
mised him the first majority that is va- 
cant. I then begged to see captain 
Ton)^ ; Mr. Donovan introduced me to 
him ; he then told me the same. Sir, tliis 
business has been a long while upon the 
carpet, I do not think you can effect what 
you say you can do, and I desire you will 
give me up the security I gave you, for 
general Tonyn, my father, has procured a 
promise from the Commander in Chief, 
to give me a majority. I observed to him 
that he had better wait a few days, for 
that I thought in all probability he would 
be gazetted. However, after arguing the 
point for a little time, he said, for two 
or three gazettes it does not signify, let 
the business go on, and if I find I am 
gazetted in a week or ten days, the busi- 
ness shall be as it originally was. How- 
ever, to make short of the story, I believe 
it was the Wednesday when we were 
speaking, and on the Saturday or Tues- 
day following he was in the gazette as 
major — the consequence was, I received 
tlie five hundred guineas, 5001. I gave 
to Mrs. Clarke, and 251. to Mr. Dono- 
van. 

Do you of your own knowledge know 
that the promotion of major Tonyn was 



13: 



owing to the Interference of Mrs. Clarke ? 
—No, I cannot say any thing upon the 
subject. 

Have you any and what reason to be- 
lieve it was owing- to the interference of 
Mrs. Clarke ? — I have no reason to be- 
lieve it was owing to the interference of 
Mrs. Clarke 

Did Mrs. Clarke ever inform you that 
she had procured the appointment of 
major Tonvn from his Royal Highness 
the Duke of York ? — She certainly in- 
formed me slie had g-ot him gazetted. 

Do you mean by that, that she inform- 
ed you that she had got him gazetted bv 
means of lier application to the Duke of 
York ? — She always told me she would 
get him gazetted, and of course it was 
through that interest, I imagine. 

Did she state that it was through the 
Duke of York that she obtained it" ?— She 
told me yes, that it was through her in- 
terest ; but whether it was or not I can- 
not say. 

Do you believe that this was obtained 
through Mrs. Clarke's application to the 
Duke of York ? — I doubt it exceedingly. 
Had you yourself no emolument from 
this transaction ?— I received 500 guineas, 
5001. I gave to Mrs. Clarke, and 251. I 
gave to Mr Donovan, which I believe 
makes the 500 guineas. I had no emolu- 
ment. 

Did Mrs. Clarke send you a gazette, 
.nnnouncing the promotion ?— I really do 
not know, I gave her the monev the mo- 
ment I saw it in the gazette ; she had no 
occasion, for I watched the gazette, and 
the moment I saw him gazetted, I took 
her the money. 

You have stated, that yon do not be- 
lieve this appointment was effected by 
the interference of Mrs. Clarke ; for what 
did you pay Mrs. Clarke the 5001. ?— Be- 
cause we had promised upon his appear- 
ing in the gazette as a major, for that 
was the way in which the note ran, that 
we were to receive the 500 g<iineas, whe- 
ther it was by her interest or General 
Tonyn's did not signify, the note ran « on 
" my appearing in the London Gazette, 
** gazetted as a major." 

Did you apply to Mrs. Clarke for this 
appomtment to be in the gazette, and on 
seeing the appointment in tlie gazette, 
she was to receive 5001. ?— Yes. 

General Tonyn was promised the first 
majority that became vacant for his son .> 
—So captain Tonyn told me. 

Did you receive, as a remuneration 
to yourself, any part of the 5001— No. 



You have stated, tliat you delivered 
the 5001. to Mrs. Clarke, and the 251. to 
Mr. Donovan ; what advantage had you ? 
—Nothing at all. 

[The witness was directed to withdraw. 



GEORGE HOLME SUMNER, Esq. a 
member of the House, attending in 
his place, made the following state- 
ment: 

I have only to confirm the statement 
made by General Clavering, that I have 
no nephew of the name of Sumner, and 
that I believe there is no such person 
living in the Temple. 



Mrs MARY ANNE CLARKE was call- 
ed in, and having been Informed by 
the chairman, that she was to an- 
swer only those questions which she 
could answer from her own know- 
ledge, was examined by the com- 
mittee, as follows : 

Do you recollect recommending cap- 
tain Tonyn of tlie 48th regiment, for a 
majority, to his Roval Highness the Com- 
mander in Chief ?-"-! do. 

Do you recollect who introduced cap- 
tain Tonyn to you for your recommen- 
dation ?— Either Mr. Donovan or captain 
Sandon. 

Do you recollect whether you were to 
receive any sum of money, provided cap- 
tain Tonyn was gazetted" J— I do not re- 
collect the stipulated sum, but I received 
5001. when it was gazetted. 

Did jou make it known, when you re- 
commended captain Tonyn to the Com- 
mander in Chief, that you were to receive 
any pecuniary consideration for his pro- 
motion ? — Yes. 

How did you come by the gazette you 
sent to Dr. Thynne ?— I suppose by the 
newspaper man. 

Did }'ou ever apply to General Claver- 
ing for a recommendation in favour of 
lieutenant Sumner ?— Yes. 

Are you acquainted with lieutenant 
Sumner ? — No. 

Who recommended lieutenant Sumner 
to you ?— Mr. Donovan. 

Do you recollect, whether you repre- 
sented lieutenant Sumner to General 
Clavering as being allied or connected 
with any particular person ?— Yes, with 
his relations. 



154 



What relations ? — Ills unci?. 

Who was his uncle ? — Doctor Sum- 
ner. 

Was that the only relation you men- 
tioned to General Clavcring' ? — No, Mr. 
Sumner the member also. 

By whom was lieutenant Sumner re- 
presented to you, as the nephew of Mr. 
Sumner the member ? — He was nephew 
of the doctor. 

What relationship was lie represented 
as bearing to Mr. Sumner the member ? — 
I cannot exactly recollect, but it was 
cousin, or something in that way ; that 
he was a relation. 

Have you ever represented yourself as 
being under the protection of a Mr. Mel- 
lish ? — Neither him, nor any man. 

Have you not represented yourself as 
being', at one time under the protection 
of his Royal Highness the Duke of York. ? 
I really think that gentleman is more 
mad than the person that was committed 
last night. 

[The chairman informed the witness 
she must answer the questions, 
and not make irrelevant observa- 
tions. 3 

The whole of the gentlemen know tliat 
already, by the representation which has 
been given before. 

Have you not represented yourself as 
being, at one time, under the protection 
of his Royal Highness the Duke of York ! 
—I do not know that I ever did represent 
myself so ; people knew it, without my 
telling it. 

What do you mean by saying, it was 
very well known already by what had 
happened ? — I do not recollect the name 
of any person that I ever represented 
myself to as living under the protection 
of the Duke of York. 

Will you positively say you do not re- 
collect ever to have stated, that you lived 
under the protection of the Duke of 
York ? — Yes, I will positively say, that I 
do not recollect tliat I did, to any parti- 
cular person. 

Will you say, that you never repre- 
sented yourself as being under the pro- 
tection of any gentleman of the name 
of Mellish ?— No, I never di4, nor any 
other. 

You are positive of that ?-T-Quite so. 

Did you ever make any representation 
to that eft'cct ? — Never. 

Did you never make any such repre- 



sentation to General Clavering .' — Ko 
never ; I will repeat what was said in my 
parlour ; General Clavering was mention- 
jng to me, one morning when he ci;lled, 
that Tui-f Mellish was just settmg offi 
with General Ferguson; I said, yes, II 
have been told so, tliat he had taken, 
leave of the prince the night before ; he 
said that I was in a very good house, ^d 
sometliing, that contractors and. beef 
went on very well: tliat was all thati 
passed : I made no answer to that :,I 
iiave many tinies heard the report, ,botli 
of him and many others. 

Do you recollect having conversation 
with Mr. Donovan, in November last, re- 
lative to the proceedings that are nqw 
taking place ? — No. 

Do you recollect stating, in a conver- 
sation, to Mr. Donovan, that if his Royal 
Highness the Duke of York would not 
come Into your terms, you would publisli 
all the transactions which had passed 
between you during tlie time you had 
lived together ? — No. 

Did any thing to that efiect pass be- 
t\Aeen you and Mr. Donovan ? — No. 

Did you ever try to Induce Mr. Dono- 
van to assist yo'-i in any purpose of ex- 
posing the Duke of York, or publishing 
those transactions ? — No ; but I will re- 
peat what he said to me in the secreta- 
ry's room the other night ; he said, if he 
had been aware of what colonel Wardlc 
intended to have done, and he had called 
upon him and stated his intentions, and 
behaved in a handsome manner, he 
would have put him into the way of pro- 
ceeding, but as it was, ha should gOj 
entirely against the whole of it ; that^ 
he might have given him many and mapy 
cases. 

Is that conversation which took place 
the other evening in the witnesses' room, 
the only one you have ever had with Mr. 
Donovan concerning this business ? — The 
only one, except what I wrote. 

Was any body present when this con-, 
versation took place between you and 
Mr. Donovan in the witnesses' roon» ?— t| 
It was full of persons, but he spoke to 
me privately apart. 

Did you ever mention Sir Fi-ancis Bur- 
dett's name to Mr. Donovan In any way, 
connected with this subject I — No. 

Do you know Sir Francis Burdett ?— -, 
In what way, as an acquaintance or per- 
sonally only ? 1 

Are you acquainted with him I — I have, 
seen him a few times. 



15 



Di, 



HaTO you ever spoke to him or he to 
ybu ? — I told him I had been a little ac- 
quainted with him, very slightly. 

Has Sir Francis Burdett ever written 
to you or sent you a message ? — No, he 
has not, not that I can recollect. 

Did Sir Francis Burdett ever apply to 
you to procure from you any papers re- 
lative to the subject now under inquiry ? 
Never once ; nor have I had any sort of 
communication, nor heard or known any 
thing of Sir Francis Burdett since May 
last, and that was merely accidental. 

Have you ever told Mr. Donovan, or 
any body else, that Sir Francis Burdett 
offered you money for some papers in 
your possession, or any thing to that ef- 
fect ?— No. 

Do you know captain Dodd ? — Yes 1 
do, slightly. 

How long have j'ou known captain 
Dodd ? — Since my living in his neighbour- 
hood. 

Do you often see captain Dodd ? — 
What is meant by often ? 

More times then once, or how often ? — 
Yes, more times than once, if that is 
often . 

When did you see captain Dodd last ? 
—I do not recollect ; but I have no view 
in screening it at all ; I am not ashamed 
of captain Dodd, nor I dare say captain 
Dodd of me, only perhaps just at this 
time. 

Did captain Dodd by any means de- 
mand or ask of you any papers in your 
possession relative to this transaction ? — 
Never ; we have never talked about 
it. 

Did you ever represent to Mr. Donovan 
or any other person, that captain Dodd 
had tried to procure from you some pa- 
pers relative to this transaction .' — Never 
to any one. 

Did you ever express any wish to Mr. 
Donovan, that he would join with you 
or assist you in prosecuting this inquiry ? 
— Never. 

Or on any subject connected with the 
transactions now under inquiry ? — Never. 

Do you know colonel M'Mahon ? 

Yes. 

Did you ever write an anonymous let- 
ter to his Royal Highness the Prince of 
Wales ?- — T(J shew colonel M'Mahon in 
his proper colours, I will produce his 
notes here to-morrow evening. 

Did you ever write an anonymous let- 
ter to his Royal Highness the Prince of 
"Wales '.—I wrote a fi-*w lines *o the Prince 

21 



of Wales, stating that a person wished to 
see him, and colonel M'Mahon called. 

Did you sign your own name, or any 
name to those few lines which you sent 
to the Prince of Wales ? — It was only a 
few lines without any name, and colonel 
M'Mahon called in ton sequence, and 
when the servant opened the door, he 
asked who kept the house ; Mrs. Far- 
quhar, that was my mother. When he 
came up stairs into the drawing-rOom, 
he said, ISIrs. Farquhar how dO you do ; 
what is the business ; I told him, that I 
wished to see the Prince of Wales, and 
after a few minutes conversation, colonel 
M'Mahon found that I was Mrs. Clarke ; 
he then promised to communicate the 
message to the Prince, and the next day 
brought me a very civil message from 
his Royal Highness, stating that he was 
extremely sorry he was obliged to go out 
of town to Brighton, which he did do 
that morning, that it was impossible for 
him to interfere, that he had a very great 
respect for me, was sorry for the manner 
in which I had been treated, and that 
colonel M'Mahon might use his influ- 
ence with the Duke of York to be the 
bearer of any message that might be the 
means of making peace ; but that it was 
a very delicate matter for his Royal 
Highness to interfere with his brother. 
Several notes passed between colonel 
M'Mahon and me, and several interviews. 
He mentioned to me that he had seen his 
Royal Highness the Duke of York at 
one time, I think in July, that the Duke 
of York asked him, if I was not very 
much exasperated against him, and if I 
did not use very strong language, and 
abuse him. Colonel M'Mahon said quite 
the contrary. Sir, I assure you ; Mra 
Clarke is very mild towards you, and she 
lays the whole of the blame on Mr. 
Adam ; he said, she is very right, I will 
see into her affairs. That was the end of 
the first message. I think the last mes- 
sage that colonel IVI'Mahon brought me 
was, that he could not bring his Royal 
Highness to any terms at all, to any sort 
of meaning concerning the debts, and 
although [ had behaved so very handsome 
towards his Roval Higimess, and had ex- 
acted nothing but his own promises to be 
put in execution, or even to take the 
sum that was due to me upon the annuity 
and pay the tradesmen, and then I would 
let his Royal Higimess off of the debts, as 
that perhaps would satisfy them ; that he 
considered it as very fair, and vwy ho- 



156 



iiouriible :ukI very liberal, or lie would 
not have been the bearer of those mes- 
sages ; and he said, he esteemed me very 
much, from the character I bore among 
my female acquaintances that he was in- 
timate with, I mean women of character, 
and for the services I liad done to many 
poor young men within his knowledge. 

I will bring some of his notes, or give 
them to colonel Wardle, to be read here 
to-morrow, to corroborate what 1 have 
stated. 

Did )'ou in November or December 
last, represent yourself to any persons as 
still having the power of procuring mili- 
tary promotions, or any other offices ? — 
No ; but I recommeiDLled some that 
wanted promotion to a person. 

Who was the person to whom you re- 
commended them ? — I will mention his 
name ; and I intend to have him here ; 
but it caimot happen immediately, from 
some circumstances. I must beg to be 
excused naming him now. 

[The chairman informed the wit- 
ness that she must answer the 
question. 

If I answer the question. It will be im- 
possible for me to produce him here ; he 
will get out of the way ; he will not come 
here. 

[The chairman informed the wit- 
ness that she must answer the 
question. 

Mr. Maltby, of fishmongers' hall. 

Is Mr. Maltby the only person to whom 
you have made any recommendations 
since November or December last ? — 
Yes ; except the letters I sent to general 
Clavering. 

Have you represented yourself at any 
time, since the close of the year 1806, 
as having it in your power to procure 
ai'my promotions, or other offices ? — 
No ; except through Mr. Maltby, which 
he can speak to, if they lay hold of him. 

Have you had any communication with 
any other person than Mr. Maltby, re- 
lative to the prociu'ing army promotions 
or offices? — No; except what I have just 
spoken to. '^ 

■yvhat situations did you endeavour to 
procure through ]Mr. Maltby, and for 
whom ? — As I thought Mr. Maltby ought 
to be exposed in the whole of his con- 
duct, I have not thought much ubout it ; 



but I have letters at home I can bring 
forward, when I am called upon. 

What situations did you endeavour to 
procure through Mr. Maltby, and for 
whom ? — I forget. 

Do you not recollect any one of them ? 
—Not one. 

Of the situations you endeavoured to 
procure so lately as November or De- 
cember last ? — I am so little interested in 
it now, I cannot recollect. 

Do you even recollect how many situ- 
ations you endeavoured to procure ?— 
No. 

Can you recollect whether they were 
army promotions, or civil situations ?^ 
The letters I have at home can distin- 
guish between them, but I cannot at 
present ; besides, I wanted them for 
friends. 

Who were the friends for whom )'0U 
wanted these appointments ? When they 
give me the liberty of using their names, 
I will communicate them. 

[The chairman informed the wit- 
ness she must give a direct answer 
to the questions, unless she ob- 
jected to them, and appealed to 
the chair,] 
I certainly must object to them. 

[The chairman informed the wit- 
ness, that it was the opinion of 
the committee that she should 
name the persons.] 

I have already named Mr. Maltby ; if 
he is brought forward perhaps he will 
name the persons. 

[The chairman again informed the 
witness, that it was the opinion 
of the committee that sh6 should 
name the persons. 

One is Mr. Lawson ; I cannot recollect 
the other. 

llecoUect yourself and state to the 
committee those persons whom you so 
represented as your friends, whose names 
you would communicate when you had _ 
their permission. — That is one of them. 

AV'^ho were the others r — I do not re- 
collect. 

Why did you speak of friends, instead 
of speaking of a single friend ? — If you 
try to serve a person you call them your 
friends, if you interest yourself for them. 

Do you stake the veracity of your 



157 



testimony upon that last answer, that 
you recollect but one of those persons ? 
— I think that I ought to appeal to the 
chair now. 

QThe chairman directed the witness 
to state tlie objection she had, and 
the committee would decide upon 
it.] 

lie is a very respectable man, and he 
has been already very ill used, and I am 
afraid of committing him and his family. 

[The chairman directed the witness 
to name the person whom she al- 
luded to as a respectable person.] 

That is giving his name at once ; re- 
ally I cannot pronounce his name riglitly, 
though I know how to spell it, and I 
must be excused. 

Do you not know how to pronoimce 
the name of your particular friend, whom 
you represented as a hardly used man ? 

[The chairman admonished the wit- 
ness that her present conduct was 
very disrespectful to the commit- 
tee.'] 

I mean to behave very respectfully, 
and I am very sorry if I do not ; but I do 
not know but the gentleman may lose 
the money he has already lodged, if I 
mention his name. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw.] 

[The witness was again called in, 
and informed by tlie chairman, 
that the committee had consider- 
ed her reason for declining to an- 
swer the question put to her, and 
was of opinion that she must an- 
swer the question.] 

"What is the name of the person you 
alluded to ? — Mr. Ludowick or Lodowick. 

Has that gentleman any other name 
but Ludowick ? — I do not know his other 
name. 

Who is Mr. Ludowick ? — He is a gen- 
tleman, I believe he lives in Essex ; that 
is all I know of him. 

Whereabouts in Essex does he live ? — 
i do not know. 

Who introduced Mr. Ludowick to you ? 
■—I never was introduced at all. 

How did you become acquainted with 
Mr. Ludowick r- — Through different 
friends. 



Xame the friends that recommended 
Mr. Ludowick to }ou ? — I cannot exactly 
name which it was in particular, but Mr. 
Maltby can tell, if he is had before the 
house. 

Name the friends that recommended 
Mr. Ludowick to you. — I cannot name 
any one in particular ; Mr. Maltby knows 
more of him himself than I do. 

Is Mr. Ludowick the person whom you 
stated as having suflTered enough alreadv, 
whose name you were unwilling to tell ? 
—Yes. 

In what has he suffered already ? — In 
lodging his mone_v, and being a long while 
out of the appointment, meeting with 
frequent disappointments from day to 
day. At a future time, or after Mr. 
Maltby has been examined, I will men- 
tion the general officer's name that he 
has made free with, I do not know whe- 
ther correctly or incorrectly. 

Tliat M ho was made free with, Ludo- 
wick or INfaltby ?— Maltby. 

What disappointments has Mr. Ludo- 
wick suficred, to which you allude ? — I 
have already stated them. 

What appointment has Mr. Ludowick 
been disappointed of ? — I believe two or 
three ; first one was mentioned, then 
another ; I cannot speak to one particu- 
larly. 

Try to recollect any one of them, or all 
of them. — I really cannot ; when Mr. 
Maltby comes forward, he will be able. 

Do you mean to state, that you cannot 
recollect any one of the appointments 
Mr. Ludowick has been disappointed of? 
— One I can ; but there have been three 
or four since offered to him, neither of 
which he has been able to procure. 

Name that one. — Assistant commis- 
sary, I think. 

Where has Mr. Ludowick lodged the 
money which you speak of, or with 
whom ? — As to that I cannot tell, but I 
can when I look over my papers at 
home. 

Do you say positively, that, without 
looking over your papers at liome, you 
cannot say where this money is lodged J — 
Yes, I do. 

How much money has Mr. Ludowick 
lodged?— From 8001. to lOOOl. 

Wlio was the general officer whose 
name Mr. Maltby represented himself as 
Jiaving made use of :— Is that a fair ques- 
tion ? 

[The chairman informed the v, itncss 



1£L8 



thai she must answer tiie ques- 
tion.] 

Sir Arthur Wellesley ; and one of the 
excuses for one of the appointments not 
taking- place, was, Sir Arthur being so 
very deeply engaged in the investigation 
at Chelsea. If this is not true, I'm do- 
ing Sir A> rthur a great service by bring- 
ing it forward. 

What appointment was it that was so 
delayed, by Sir Arthur being so much 
engaged ? — I believe it was this first, that 
of assistant comitiissaiy, but I am not 
sure. 

For whose use is the money lodged ? — 
I do not know, but I can tell by looking 
at my papers. 

You have certain papers at home, 
which will enable you to state to the com- 
mittee for whose benefit the sum of mo- 
ney in question is now lodged, and where 
it is lodged ? — Yes. 

How came you to be in possession of 
those papers ? — They will shew for them- 
selves when I produce them, better than 
I can explain it. 

How came you in possession of those 
papers ?— From Mr. Maltby. 

Was it Mr. Maltby that introduced 
Mr. Ludowick tp you, or you Mr. Ludo- 
■wick to Mr. Maltby ?— I do not think they 
have ever seen each other, not that I 
^now of. 

Did you first mention Mr. Ludowick's 
name to Mr. Maltby, or did Mr. Maltby 
mention it first to you ?— ^I to Mr. Mall- 
b.v ; I believe he has been in the habit of 
acting as agent for these ten or a dozen 
years in this sort of way. 

Has Mr. INIaltby made use of the name 
of any other person besides Sir Arthur 
Wellesley ? — He has written very point- 
edly to that to me, and spoken besides. 

Has Mr. Maltby made use of the name 
pf any other person besides Sir Arthur 
Wellesley ? — I cannot recollect at pre- 
sent ; but I shall, at a futui'e time, if I 
am here, and will state it. 

Where did you form your friendship 
for Mr. Ludowick ? — I have already said, 
that any man that I interested myself for, 
I considered as a friend ; I am not inti- 
mate with him. 

How came you to interest yourself in 
Mr. Ludowipk ? — From a friend of my 
own. 

Who was that friep.d ? — Mr. Barber. 
Where does Mr. Barber live I — In 
Broad-street, in the pity. 



How long have you known Mr. Ludo-' 
wick ? — I do not know him, but by means 
of his family. 

Do you mean to say you have never 
seen Mr. Ludowick ? — No, I did not mean 
to say that. 

Where have you seen him, and when ? 
—I have already said, I do not know him ; 
I might have seen him, and not have 
known him. 

Have you ever seen Mr. Liidowick, or 
not ? — I cannot tell, as not knowing his 
person. 

About what time was it that this com- 
missariat appointment began to be in ne- 
gotiation ] — I cannot remember, but the 
papers will date it exactly. 
What year ? — Last year. 
Can you recollect what part of last 
jear ? — .No, I cannot. 

What kind of papers are those you 
allude to ; are they letters .' — I do not 
know what they are. 

Do you mean to say, that you do not 
know at all what kind of papers they are I 
— They are papers written on. 

Are they letters, or securities ?— They 
shew what they are ; I cannot exactly 
speak to them ; I will give them to Mr. 
Wardle to-morrow. 

You have said, that those papers will 
inform the committee of all the particu- 
lars of this transaction ; how can you say 
that, if you do not know what those pa- 
pers are ? — Because I do not know how 
to describe them exactly. 

Do you recollect their contents ? — No, 
I do not ; but I know there are a great 
many letters from Mr. Maltby, and some- 
thing about the bankers ; enough to shew 
the whole of the transaction. 

Do you recollect to have stated to cap- 
tain Donovan, that if his Royal Highness 
the Duke of York was informed of your 
ever having received any money, it would 
be your ruin >. — Never to any person 
whatever. 

Through what channel, or by whose 
influence, did you propose to Mr. Ludo- 
wick, or the agent employed by Mr. Lu- 
dowick, to procure the situation that he 
required ? — -A|r. Barber will recollect 
that ; and he is a very honourable man, 
and will speak to the tfutli, and I believe 
he knows the parties. 

Who was the person whom you held 
out yourself as having such influence 
over, as that by that influence you could 
procure the situation desired by Mr Lu- 
dowick ?— I do not tliink that ;iny one was 



159 



held out, I fiincy they guessed the Duke 
of York, but no one was held out ? and I 
think it is very likely that Mr. Donovan 
•apposed the Duke of Portland ; but I 
mean here to say, that he is not at all 
connected. And the office that Mr. War- 
die mentioned in the city, I know nothing* 
at all about ; I was very sorry to see that 
Mr. Wardle liad mentioned such a thing', 
because every one who knows the Lord 
Chancellor, must know that, besides be- 
ing oiie of the highest, he is one of the 
most honourable men in England ; and 
if there are any insinuations about the 
Duke of Portland, Air. Maltby is the 
Duke of Portland — He is my Duke of 
Portland : I mean entirely to clear my- 
self from holding out any insinuations 
against the Duke's character. Mr. War- 
die accused me once of going into the 
Duke of Portland's, and that he had 
watched me in ; I told him I was not in 
the habit of going in there, and I laughed 
at him ; and afterwards somebody told 
him it was Mrs. Gibbs ; more likely Mrs. 
Gibbs than me. I wish to do away the 
two stories of Mr. MeDish and the Duke 
of Portland before the honourable gen- 
tlemen. 

Am I to imderstand you, you never 
did give out to any person, that you had 
access to or influence with the Duke of 
Portland ? — No, I did not ; I fancy that 
once I laughed very much about some 
sort of birds, with Mr. Donovan ; but I 
mean to say, I never did use his name. 

How long have you known Mr. Law- 
son ? — About four months, or five months. 

Who introduced Mr. Lawson to you ? 
— He is a piano-forte maker. 

What office has he been soliciting ? — I 
do not recollect, I cannot tell what ; it is 
something tliat Mr. Donovan has been 
concerned in as well ; something at Sa- 
vannah la Mar. 

What appointment did you solicit for 
Mr. Lawson ?— One of those places ; there 
are a number of them ; but Mr. Maltby 
can speak to it ; I fancy he has been 
lodging money lately, within this very 
short time, within this fortnight, per- 
haps. 

Where ? — I do not know, but Mr. Malt- 
by knows ; it is some concern of his. 

What malces you think that he has de- 
posited a sum of money within this last 
fortnight ? — Because he told me he was 
going to do it. 

When did he tell you so ?•— About a, 
fortnight since. 



Where did you see him when he told 
j'ou so ? — At my own house. 

With whom did he say he was going 
to deposit it ?- — He did not say with 
whom ; but Mr. Maltby had some more 
of thegp men, who had to be concerned 
in it, and he was to lodge it with his 
bankers. 

With whose bankers ? — Mr. Maltby's, 
I suppose. 

How long have you known Mr. San- 
don ? — Ever since colonel French's levy. 

Was that the first knowledge you had 
of him ? — If he did not come about colo- 
nel French's levy, he came about some 
other appointments ; I should rather 
think he brought me a list of officers for 
appointments, instead of the levy first. 

Did he come to you voluntarily, or did 
you send for him I — I could not send for 
him, for he gave Mr. Corri 2001. for an 
introduction, him and colonel French. 

Was that before captain Tonyn's re- 
commendation ? — Yes. 

How much had Mr. Sandon out of the 
money paid by captain Tonyn ? — I never 
inquired. 

He had no part of the five hundred 
guineas, had he ? — No ; I should not 
wonder but what he had eight or nine 
from captain Tonyn, it was something 
more than the five, or else Mr. Donovan 
had. 

He got more than you did by that trans- 
action then ?— No, not that ; I state it at 
eight or nine, and he gave me five ; but I 
do not know that he had that. 

What makes you think that he had it ? 
—I think he must have had something, 
or he would not have troubled himself 
in the business. 

What do you suppose he had about 
colonel French's levy ?— Colonel French 
told me, that he stole half 

You stated in your examination yes- 
terday, that you were at the opera with 
a lord Lenox and some other gentleman ; 
how long have you known lord Lenox ? — 
I never knew him at all. 

I understood you to have stated in 
your examination yesterday, that you 
were at the play or the opera with lord 
Lenox and Sir Robert Peat ? — I said I 
was along with Sir Robert Peat, and an 
old gentleman came in with this Mr. Wil- 
liams, and they said that was lord Lenox 
and Mr. Williams. Sir Robert Peat said 
that. 

You mean to say you did not know this 
lord Lenox before you saw him at the 



160 



play that night ? — No ; I had seen him 
driving about town, and knew it was tlie 
man tliey called lord Lenox, but never 
spoke to him before. 

Are you positive you never spoke to 
him before ? — Quite. 

[The witness was directed to withdraw. 



Did she ever shew yo\t titese paper* 
she has referred to ? — No, she did not ; 
I think I saw one or two notes to her 
about the thing I endeavoured to find 
out, but it has escaped me what it was ; 
it is several weeks ago, and I have had 
so hiuch upon my mind, that after an at- 
tempt or two, it is impossible to recal it. 



CWYLLYM LLOYD WARDLE, Esq. 
attending in his place, was examined 
as follows : 

Did you ever reproach the last witness 
with going to the Duke of Portland ? — I 
had heard that she had been there ; and 
I woiulered what she could be doing- 
there ; so far I did reproach her. 

Who told you that she had been at the 
Duke of Portland's !— I heard it at the 
office I mentioned in tlie city ; a person 
described her person, and they said there 
was a tide waiter's place to be sold, they 
believed ; but they were not certain ; it 
depended on an application then making 
by a lady to tlie Duke of Portland ; I 
wentag.ain in a few chiys ; they described 
a person excessively like Afrs. Clarke, 
and when I saw her I questioned her 
about it, and said if it was so, she was 
doing very wrong. 

Do you know Mr. Maltby ? — I have 
seen him once, I tlilnk, at Mrs. Clai'ke's. 

Did you ever endeavour to trace the 
transactions carrying on by Mr. Maltby? — 
I did in some measure ; but 1 could not at 
all succeed ; he would not commit him- 
self at all to me ; I endeavoured to catch 
him upon one point, but he would not 
open to me at all. 

Were you aware that the witness was 
employed by Mr.Maltby in these transac- 
tions ? — I merely understood from her 
that he was employed in one business, 
which I endeavoured to find out, but I 
endeavoured in vain ; I could not gfet him 
to open at all. 

Did she state to you that it was a busi- 
ness in which she was concerned ? — No, 
she did not ; she merely mentioned that 
he was about business, I forget the name 
now, I was excessively anxious to find it 
out. 

Did she ever mention to you the busi- 
ness respecting Mr. Ludowick .' — I do 
not know that ever she did ; 1 do not 
know the name at all, but 1 really think 
she said that he was in the habits of do- 
ing it for a number of persons ; one case 
she mentioned, and I endeavoured to sift 
It to the bottom. 



Colonel GORDON was called In, and 
examined by tlie committee, as fol- 
lows : 

Have you brought with you the official 
documents respecting the appointment 
of major Tonya I — Yes, I have. 

State to the committee what you know 
upon that subject. — I hold in my hand 
the first recommendation upon the sub- 
ject of captain Tonyn — major Tonyn : 
witli the permission of the committeee, 
I will read_ it. 

[Colonel Gordon read a letter, signed 
Patrick Tonyn, dated tlie 2rtli of 
June, 1803.] 

" May it please your Royal Highnccs. 
" Sir, 
" In the present period of exten- 
" sion of his Majesty's forces, I beg 
" leave to recommend the 48th re- 
" giment to your Royal Highness's 
*' consideration. 

" I hope it will not be thought I 
" presume too far to say, captain 
" Tonyn for some time past has 
*• commanded the 48th at Malta ; 
" and with great submission, I like- 
" wise venture to mention lieutenant 
" Tonyn : And I most humbly peti- 
" tion your Royal Highness, gra- 
" ciously to condescend to grant my 
" sons your royal protection. 

" With most profound and dutiful 
•' respect, I have the honour to re- 
" main, with all submission, 
"Sir, 
*• Your Royal Higness's 
" most devoted servant, 

" Pitt. Tontfn." 
" 118, Park-street, 2nh June, 1803." 

Indorsed : 
" London, 27 June, 1803. 
General Toni/n." 
" Promoted to a majorittj 
" in the ol.st regiment, up- 
" on the formation of a se- 
" cond battalion, in ^^iig. 
»< '0\^Without purchase" j 




I6i 



(Inclosure.) 
"II. R. H. will be glad to consl- 
"tler the general's two sons on 
" luvourablc opp"' Ibr promoting 
" them." 

ficncral Tonyn -was an old officer ? 
—.One of the oldest officers 1 believe, 
at that time in the army. The answer 
to that letter is dated the 29th of June, 
1803. 

[^Colonel Gordon read It] 

" Horse-Guards, 29th June, 1803. 

" Sir, 
"I have to acknowledge the re- 
"c«ipt of your letter of the 27tli 
" instant reconnncnding to nie your 
" sons captain Tonjn and Lieutenant 
" Tonyn of the 48th rcgt ; and I 
"request you will be assured, that 
*' I sliall have much pleasure at a 
*' favourable opportunity, to pay 
*' every attention in my power to 
"your wishes in their favour. 
" I am, &c. 
(Signed) " Frederick, 

" General TonjTi, Com"^ in Chief." 

&c. &c. &c." 

Indorsed : 
" Copy of a letter from 
" H. R. H. the Com' in 
"Chief to Gen' Tonyn, 
" 29th June 1803." 
The next document upon this subject 
appears to be a memorial from captain 
Tonyn himself. 

[Colonel Gordon read it. 

"To his Royal Highness the 
" Duke of York and Albany, 
*' Commander in Chief of his 
" Majesty's forces. 

"The memorial of George 
" August. Tonyn, captain 
"in his Majesty's 48th 
" regiment of foot. 
" Humbly sheweth, 
" That your memorialist has been 
" near twenty four years an o^cer ; 
" fourteen of these on active sei-vice 
" with tiic 48th regiment on all its 
" various stations, in the West Indies 
*• and the Mediterranean. 

"That your memorialist, being 
*' the senior captain present witli the 
" regiment, most humbly implores 
" Yovir Royal HigUncss's protecllou 



" and that your Royal Highness will 
" be pleased to recommend him to 
" his Majesty's royal favour ; thjit 
" his Majesty may be graciously 
" pleased to grant him promotion 
" to the rank of m.ijor, in such man- 
" ner as your Royal Highness may 
" think fit. 

" And your IStemorialists, as in 
duty bound, will ever pray." 
Indorsed : 
" Memorial. 
" George Augustus Tonyn, 
captain 4Bth regiment. 
March, 1804." 

(Inclosure.) 
« C. L." 
" Captain Tonyn to be noted for 
" promotion, and acquainted that 
" iiis li. H. will be glad to consider 
" him on a favourable opportimity. 
" J. G." 

This memorial is without date, but it 
was received in March, 1804. The an- 
swer to that memorial I hold in my hand. 

[Colonel Gordon read it-J 

*' Horse-Guards, 

" Sir, 15th March, 1804. 

" I have the honour, by the Com- 

" mander in Chief's commands, to 

" acknowledge the receipt of your 

*' memorial without a date, and to 

" acquaint you in reply, that your 

" name has been noted for promo- 

" tion ; and his Royal Highness will 

" be glad to consider you on a fa- 

*' vourable opportunity. 

*' I llAVC &c» 

(Signed) '" JV. II CUntonr 
" C.ipt. Tonyn, 

" 48 Foot," 
"118, Park-sti-cet." 

Indorsed : 
" Copy of r col. Clinton'.'* 
letter to capt. Tonyn, of the 
15th March, 1804." 

The document I hold in my hand re- 
lates to the promotion of lieutenant 
Tonyn, alluded to in the first letter of 
General Tonyn : it remains vith tiie 
committee to decide whether that is to 
be read. 

Was not General Tonyn colonel of the. 
regiment at the time he made the appli- 
cation ii) favour of his sons ?— Yes, he' 



162 



was. These are all the documents that I 
have, with respect to major Tonvii. It 
appears, that in the month of August 
1804, a very large augmentation was 
made to the army, consisting of no less 
than fifty battalions ; in the formation of 
those battalions I received the orders of 
the Commander in Chief to prepare a 
list of tho senior officers of the army, 
generally of each rank, and to take their 
names from the book of recommenda- 
tions, where they had been noted. Ii\ 
consequence of this command, I did pre- 
pare a list, and submitted it to the Com- 
mander in Chief; and, in that list, in 
the same list with major Tonyn's name, 
there were fifty -three officers appointed 
to majorities ; namely, eleven majors re- 
moved from otiier corps, or from tlic 
half-pay ; thirteen brevet majors ; twenty- 
nine captains. Of those captains seven 
•were captains of the year 1794, nine were 
ciiptains of the year 1795 (amongst them 
was captain Tonyn) five were captains of 
the J ear 1796, seven of tlie year 1797, 
and one of the year 1799. I have men- 
tioned that captain Tonyn was a captain 
of 1795, tliere were only six captains in 
that year senior to him in the service. 
That is all I know on tlie subject of cap- 
tain Tonyn's jM-omotion. 

It appears that in the letter of general 

Tonyn he recommends two of his sons ; 

can you state any thing wiUi reference 

to the other son ? — On the 30th of May 

1804, General Tonyn writes again. 

[Colonel Gordon read the letter.] 

" Sir, 

" I have the honour to transmit a 

" letter from captain Long of the 

** 48th, requesting liis Royal High- 

*' ness the Commander in Chief's 

" permission to sell his company, 

" having purchased. I humbly beg 

*' leave to recommend lieutenant 

" Charles Willi.am Tonyn to his 

*' Royal Highness the Duke of 

" York's fiivourable representation 

" to his Majesty ; humbly praying, 

" that he m.ay be graciously pleased 

" to grant him leave to purchase 

" captain Long's company, the mo- 

** ney being lodged with tlie agent 

" for the same ; as all tlie officers 

" standing before him iu the corps 

" have declined the purcliase 

*' Give me leave, Sir, to beg the 
" favour of your good offices in bc- 
*' half of my son, whose declara- 
" tion I have the honour herewith 
'* to inclos«, and that you will have 



" the goodness to implore for him 
" his Royal Ilighness's gracious pro- 
" tection. I have the honour to re» 
" main, with all respect, 
" Sir, 
" Your most obedient and 

" most humble Servant, 

" I'at. Tonyn.'* 
" 118, Park-street, SOth May 1804 '' 

Indorsed : 
" 48th Foot. 
Lt. Tonyn, 
Mem. 2d June 1804." 

(Inclosure 1. 

«' Mallow, 15th May 1804." 
" Sir, 
" Circumstances of a peculiar 
''nature having lately occurred, 
" that oblige me to retire from the 
" service, I have sent in a memo- 
"rial to the commander in Chief, 
"to be allowed to sell my commis- 
" sion at the regulated price. I take 
" the liberty of informing you, as 
"early as possible, of my intentions 
" as I have been given to understand 
"your son would succeed to the 
"promotion by purchase. Should 
" that be the case, if you'll have the 
" goodness to lodge the money in 
" the hands of Mr. Gilpin tlie agent, 
" and give me the earliest informa- 
" tion, in order that the business 
" may be forwarded with as little 
"delay as possible, you will ever 
" oblige, 

" Sir, 
" Your vcrv ob' humble serv', 
"E. S. ton J, capt. 48th rcg'." 
"General Ton\n, 
"118, Pr.rk-street,'near 
Ilyde-Park, London." 
Indorsed : 
" Capt. Long. 

" 43th regiment 
" 15th Mav 1804. 
"R----23d Slay." 
" All officers concerned have 
declined purchasing." 

(Inclosure 2.) 

" Sir, 
" I beg you will be pleased to ob. 
"tain forme, his Majesty's pcrmis- 
"sion to purchase Captain Long's 
" company in the 48^ regiment 
"of Foot. 



I 



1^3 



'' In rase his .Vrujosty shrill be p;ra- 
" ciously pleased to permit nio lo 
*' purchase tlic same, I do dcclar<^ 
" and certify, U])on tlic word and 
" honunr of an oHicer and a g-entle- 
" man, tliat 1 will not, now, or at 
" any tiiture time, g-ivc by any means 
** or in any shape whatever, directly 
*' or indirectly, any more than the 
" sum of 1,5001. bJhig- the full value 
" of the said commission, as the 
•' same is iimitcil and fixed by his 
". Majesty's lleq-ulation. 
" I have the honour to be, 
" Sir, 
" Vour most obedient and 
" most humble servant, 
" /-. //''. Toni/n, 
" Lt. 48tli RcG^t." 
" To tlic Colonel or 
Coinmandinp;' Officer 
oflSth Uegt. 

" I beg' leave to recommend the 
" above ; and I verily believe the 
" established regulation, in regard 
" to price, is intended to be strictly 
" complied with ; and that no clan- 
" destine bargain subsists between 
" the pai'ties concerned. 
" J^at. I'om/H, 

" General .and Colonel. 

" .30th May 1804 " 
Tlic inclosure is the letter from the 
young man himself. - 

Did all the offitffer.s who were promoted 
at the time major Tonyn was promoted, 
receive their promotion into the new 
corps without jjurchase I — Into the new 
corps, most certainly. 

All the new captains those that were 
promoted into the augmentation of the 
army ? — Yes. 

Did many of them appear in the same 
gazette with major Tonyn ? — I have stil- 
ted, that there were 53 field officers in 
the same gazette, and 1 sliould imagine, 
without counting them, there could not 
be less th.an 200 officers altogether ; the 
paper is now in my hand. 

At the time this great augmentation 
took place, and lists of officers were pre- 
paring in the office of the Commander in 
Chief, were those lists a secret, or was 
it in any one's power, on referring to 
the clerks, to sec those lists ? — I endea- 
vour to keep those things as secret as I 
possibly can, but in so large a promotion 
it is impossible for mc to say the secret 
was exactly kept. 



Previous to tiif {gazetting of those coitir 
missions which have been alluded to, 
when the list was completed, or nearly 
completed, was it possible to keep the 
secret Ml) far, as to prevent the contents 
of those lisis being more or less known I 
—1 do not think it was. 

Give the committee some account of 
the purchase and sales of commissions 
in the army, the manner in which that 
business is transacted, and in whose 
hands the purchase-money is lodged. I 
liave already stated to the House, and it 
is in evidence before the committee, that 
the same rules apply to the pi-omotion of 
dfficers by purchase, as without ; but in 
order to ensure the greatest possible re- 
gularity, every regiment in the service 
is ordered to transmit a return quarterly, 
of the number of officers in each regi- 
ment disposed to purchase, and to men- 
tion in such return where the purchase- 
money is to be had ; those returns arc 
entered in a book in the Commander in 
Chief's office, and in the event of a va- 
cancy those returns arc invariably refer- 
red to, and the officer senior upon the 
list, if in all respects eligible, is invari- 
ably recommended, pro^ ided it does not 
interfere with other officers of greater 
pretensions. 

In whose hands Is the purcliasc-money 
deposited or lodged ? — Before a recom. 
mendation is submitted to his Majesty 
for ])urchase, it is necessary that a j^aper 
should be sent to the Commander iu 
Chief's office from the agent, stating 
that he is satisfied that the money will 
be forthcoming when the commission is 
gazetted. It is not necessary, and it is 
so gone forth to the army, as is stated in 
a paper upon the table of this committee, 
that the officers are not called u])on to 
lodge the mon-jy in the agents' hands, 
but they are only called upcm to notify to 
them, that it will be forthcoming on the 
pronu)tion being gazetted. 

Docs any part of the money relat- 
ing to the sale of commissions pass 
through the hands of the Commander 
in Chief, or has the Commander in (JhieC 
any controul over that money ? — None 
wh.atever. 

Can you state from your knowledge of 
the business of the office, what is the 
a\crag-e amount of the purshase and sale 
of commissions in the course of a year ? 
•—The average amount lor the last three 
years, annually, exceccls considerably 
fonr hundred thousand pou'ic^s- 



22 



164 



Give the Gonimitlee some account of 
the origin of purchases and sales of com- 
missions in the army, and the effect that 
they have upon the army ? — I believe 
that the origin of the purchase ^nd sale 
of commissions arises pretty much as 
follows : In every other service in Eu- 
rope it is understood that the licad of the 
army lias the power of granting pensions 
to the officers of the army, in propor- 
tion to their rank and services : no such 
power exists in the head of the army in 
this country ; therefore, when an officer 
is arrived at the command of a regiment, 
and is, from long service, infirmity, or 
wounds, totally incapable of proceeding 
with that regiment upon service, it be- 
comes necessary to place a more efficient 
officer in his stead. It is not possible 
for his Majesty to increase the establish- 
ment of tlie army at his pleasure, by ap- 
pointing two lieutenant-colonels where 
only one is fixed upon the establishment ; 
nor is it consistent witli justice to place 
an old officer upon the lialf-pay, or de- 
prive him altogether of his commission ; 
there is, therefore, no alternative, but to 
allow him to retire, receiving a certain 
compensation for his former services ; 
what that compensation should be, has 
been awaitled upon due consideration, 
by a board of general officers, that sat, 
I think, forty or fifty years ago, some- 
where about 1762 or 1763 ; they taking 
into consideration the rank, and the pay 
of each rank, awarded a certain sum that 
each officer, who was allowed to retire, 
should receive upon retiring ; tliat sum 
is called " the regulation-price of com- 
missions." The bearing that this has 
upon the army, is a very extensive ques- 
tion, but there can be no doubt that it is 
extremely advantageous for those officers 
who cannot purchase. I cannot better 
illustrate it to the committe, than by 
stating an exann»le : We will suppose, of 
the first regiment the thiixl captain can- 
not purchase ; the first and second can : 
if those two officers could not purchase, 
it is very evident that the third captain 
Avould remain much longer third captain, 
than if they were removed out of his 
way, by purcliase in the great body of 
the army ; and if no officer can be al- 
lowed to purchase, unless he is duly qual- 
ified for promotion without purchase, 
there cannot poasibly be any objection to 
such regulation, nor can it be said that 
any unexperienced officer is appointed 
by purchase over the heads of others 
better qualifieu than himself, no officer 



being allowed to purchase, but such as 
is duly qualified by his Majesty's regu- 
lations. 

Upon the whole, you consider the pre- 
sent mode in which purchases and sales 
of commissions is limited, as advanta- 
geous to the service ? — As a matter of 
opinion I certainly do. 

You liave stated, upon the former ex- 
aminations, the manner in which the bu- 
siness is transacted at the Duke of York's 
office ; in the course of your transacting 
business with the Duke of York, in re- 
gard to former lists of commissions for 
tlie approbation of his Majesty, do you 
ever remember the Duke of York taking 
a paper-memorandum, or a list of officers 
out of his pocket, and putting it into 
your hand, with an intimation that that 
list was to be considered out of the usual 
course ? — I never recollect any sucli in- 
stance : I take this opportunity of stat- 
ing, that since I have had the honour of 
serving his Royal Highness the Duke of 
York, I have stated it often before, I nev- 
eV recollect any one solitary instance, in 
which the Commander in Chief has ever 
taken any paper out of his pocket and 
put into my hands, saying, * this man 
must be an ensign, tliis a lieutenant, and 
this a captain ;' but all recommendations 
have come regularly through tlieir prop- 
er channel, and I do not think there is 
any one instance to the contrary. 

in the first documenUyou gave in, the 
former night, with respect to captain 
Maling, tliei'e is marked in the printed 
paper, in italics, the initials C L. with 
the words " agreed to ;" what is the 
meaning of those letters C. L. ?— My 
first assistant is colonel Loraine, C. L. 
are the initials of his nanie, and " agreed 
to," is put, and it then passes into liis 
hands, and is acted upon. 

Is the entry marked with tlie initials 
C. L. the definitive entry with respect to 
any recommendation that comes before 
you \ — No, it is not. 

If any alteration takes place after- 
wards, in what way is that noted ? — It is 
commonly noted in the same manner 
upon the same paper. 

With the same initials ? — ^\Vhen the 
initials are once put, there is no occasion 
to put them again, the paper invariably 
passes through the same channel. 

Is it usual when a recommendation is 
delayed in the office for want of sufficient 
information, but not definitely stopped, 
to mark that in the same way with these 
initials, C. L. ! — I commonly put a mc- 



165 



morandum upon every paper that passes 
undei" my hands. 

How would you mark a recommenda- 
tion in that predicament ? — If the paper 
was to be considered, I should say so ; 
" to be considered." 

If further inquiries were to be made, 
what woidd you say ? — I should probably 
say " to be considered," or very proba- 
bly, "cannot be acceded to." It is al- 
most impossible for me to state the pre- 
cise terms .- I should adopt them accord- 
ing to' circumstances. 

AVould you state " not to be acceded 
to," when it was not determined that the 
recommendation shoidd not be acceded 
to, but only dela3ed, while further in- 
quiries were making ? — If the paper was 
not to be acceded to, I sliould say, " not 
to be acceded ;" but it does not follow 
that though it was not acceded to then, 
it might not be in a month afterwai-ds, 
or three weeks afterwards. 

If the only reason for not acceding to 
the recommendation at that time, was 
tlie want of information, and that inqui- 
ries were making to obtain that informa- 
tion, would you mark '* not acceded to^' ? 
. — I really might or might not ; it seems 
to me, as I conceive it, a matter of perfect 
indifference. 

How are the first commissions in the 
army commonly disposed of; the first 
commission that an officer receives ? — 
Invariably without purchase, unless for 
some special purpose. 

Are those first commissions in the pat- 
ronage of the Commander in Chief? — 
Yes, they are, exclusively. 

You have stated that officers purchas- 
ed according to their seniority, unless 
thei'e were superior pretensions ; do you 
mean in junior officers ; will you explain 
what you mean by that ? — Suppose there 
•was a vacant company in a regiment, and 
a lieutenant in that regiment was willing 
to purchase, it does not quite follow that 
the Commander in Chief would permit 
that lieutenant to purchase, although he 
might be very eligible, because there 
might be other officers still more deserv- 
ing than him in the army. 

Do tliose circumstances in point of 
fact frequently happen ? — Continually. 

Within these last years have not a vast 
number of commissions been given to 
the officers of* the militia, both in Great 
Britain and Ireland ? — Yes ; to a very 
considerable extent. 

What is the practice of the Command- 



er in Chief's office, when an application 
is made, by any gcntleftiaaeither in Great 
Britain or Ireland, by memorial or other- 
wise, for a commission for bis son or re- 
lation ? — It is the practice in the Com- 
mander in Chief's office to answer every 
paper that comes in, without exception. 
When any officer, or any gentleman, 
makes an application for an ensigncy, 
that application is invariably answered, 
and the common answer is, * that the 
name of the applicant is noted, and will 
be considered as favourable opportuni- 
ties offer ;' the name is then put down in 
a book, and the letter is put by. 

Is it the practice in the Commander in 
Chief's office, particvdarly when applica- 
tions come from Ireland, to i-cfer those 
applications to the general officer com- 
manding in the district from which they 
may have come ? — Tlie applications from 
Ireland are not considered regular, uni 
less tliey come through the officer com- 
manding the forces there, or through 
the civil channel of the secretary of state. 

Amongst the documents that you have 
given in, with respect to major Tonyn, 
is there a document similar to that just 
alluded to, indorsed C. L. " agreed to," 
or any thing of that kind I 

[Colonel Gordon referred to the do- 
cument.] 

" C. L." 

" State captain Long's services. 
E?is. Liverpool Jie^t. 2d Oct. 1795 0)v>. 

J 'ent 65th .... 6th Jan. 1796 by P. 

x.icut. . . IBth Drag, olst Jan. 1799 bi/Exc. 

Capt 9th Mar. 1803 by P. 

. . . A^th . . . \Oth Sept. 1803 byE.rc." 

It amoiuits to the same thing ; it is a 
slip of paper. This was the mode' of 
transacting business by my predecessor : 
I generally do it upon the corner of the 
letter ; I think it better, because this is 
liable to be lost, that would not. 

Do you mean that commissions in new- 
raised regiments are always gi\en away, 
or thatensigncies are always given away? 
— The answer that I gave to the former 
question, I mean to stand exactly as it 
does ; and I beg to explain, that there is 
no such thing as original commissions 
purchased ; there are many-„-jn'«igns coni- 
missions for sale, but they > private 
property, arising out of the t^plr.natlon 
that I gave to a former question : for ex- 
fimple, a captain sells his commission, 
that is, he sells his company ; a lieuten' 
aBt buys tlwt company ; an ensign buys 



16G 



that lieutenancy ; both of whicli are the 
captain's property ; the ensif^ncy then 
becomes vacant of course, by purchase. 

In point of fact, Avas the application of 
General Tonyn, in rcg-ard to his second 
son, successful ? — I think it will he found 
on reference to the document, that the 
services of the second son of General 
Tonyn were not so long' as those of the 
eldest son ; and the g-eneral recommend- 
ed the second son for purchase ; and that 
he actually was promoted, I helieve it 
\vlll be found on reference to the dates, 
before the eldest son. 

You have stated, that when this large 
promotion took place, in consequence of 
the avij^mentation of tlie army, you were 
directed by his Royal Hij^hness to lay 
before him a list of officers to be pro- 
moted into this augmentation, to be tak- 
en from tlie oldest officers of their re- 
spective ranks in the army ; arc you 
quite sure that the name of captain To- 
nyn was included by you in the list you 
laid before the Commander in Chief, or 
was his name suggested as addition and 
alteration in that list by the Commander 
in Cliicf ? — I recollect perfectly well tlie 
circumstajices of that levy ; it was at a 
period of the additional force act ; and 
tlie names, upon the list which I sub- 
mitted to the Commander in (vhicf, I 
reallybelieve, were written, almost with- 
out exception, with my owti hand. I had 
one assistant to assist me in making out 
the list ; but 1 really believe, that the 
rough paper was actually written with 
my own hand. 

Do you answer, that you are certain 
you included captain Tonyn's name iu 
the list you submitted to tlie Command- 
er in Chief, as b«ing one of the oldest 



officers in the army in that class fin- pro- 
motion ? — As certain as I can be of a 
thing that I could not possibly take my 
oath of. 

To the best of your recollection ? — O, 
certainly. 

If the name of captain Tonyn had been 
introduced by the Commander in Chief, 
having been omitted by yourself, would 
not you have recollected tliat circum- 
stance ? — Yes, I think I should ; it is iu 
evidence before the committee, on ray 
first examination, 1 believe. 

Do you not put a mark upon all papers, 
upon which any thing is done or to be 
done ; — It is my constant practice to 
make a mark upon every paper, without 
exception, that comes into that office : 
1 mean to say that generally ; many pa- 
pers may escape me, but that is my gene- 
rid practice. 

According- to what is done, or to be 
done ? — Wh.at is to be done. 

State whether the Commander in Chief 
has not been in the habit of attending to 
recommendations by colonels of regi- 
ments for eusigncies in their particular 
regiments, provided the gentlemen re- 
commended were certified to be eligible 
and fit for service, and ready to join their 
regiments ? — Yes, certainly ; but in giv- 
ing my evidence before this house, I 
think it my duty to state, that the Com- 
mander in Chief does not consider that 
tlie patronage of the regiments in any 
manner whatever devolves upon the co- 
lonel. 

[The witness was directed to witli- 
draw. 

[The chairman was directed to re- '• 
port progress, and ask leave to sit 
aarain.l 



ucl- 



APPENDIX 



TO THE FIFTH DAY'S 



Minutes of Evidence upon the Conduct of His Ropl Highness 
The Commander in Chief. 



No. 1. 
(No. 1.)— TERMS proposed to raise a 
Corps of 5,000 men to complete the 
old i-egimcnts. 

That an allowance be made of tvventy- 
jRve g-uineas for each man approved at 
the appointed dep6ts, which arc below 
mentioned. 

Til at no man is tq> be enlisted above 
55 years of agfc, rtftr imder 5 feet 5 
inches, but well made g;rowing lads, be- 
tween 16 and 18 years of age, may be 
taken at 4 feet 6 inches. 

That an allowance to be made of 
twenty guineas for growing boys, ap- 
proved as above, under 16 years of age, 
at 5 feet 2 inches. 

No. 3. — [That the above sums of 
twenty-five guineas for men, and twenty 
guineas for boys, arc to serve as a fund 
to subsist the recruits until finally ap- 
proved at the appointed depots, to pay 
their bounties, to afford pay to the 
officers employed on this service to fur- 
nish clothing, appointments, and pay to 
the non-commissioned officers, drum- 
mers, &c. &c. &c. In short this fund is 
to cover all recruiting expenses and cas- 
ualties whatever.] 

The recruits are to be engaged with- 
out limitation as to the period or place 
of their services ; and such coporals it 
may be found expedient to employ, are 
to Jje given to understand, that they are 
liable to be drafted as privates into the 
old regiments. 

Each recruit is to be provided with 
the following slop clothing, viz. a plain 
red cloth jacket, so made as to button 
close to the body, and to have a stand- 
up collar, a short waistcoat lined with 
flannel, a pair of long mixed-colored 
cloth trowsers, and one plain round 
black hat and cockade . 



An allowance to be made of 11. 7s. 6d. 
for the expense of slop clothing for each 
appi'oved recruit. 

That the bounty given to the recruits, 
not exceed that given by the line. 

It is submitted, that the following 
places are to be fixed upon for depots 
(as considered best calculated to expe- 
dite the service) where the recruits 
are to be finally passed by an inspect- 
ing field officer, or such other officer as 
may be authorized by his Uoyal High- 
ness the Commander in Chief: Edin- 
burgh, or Berwick-on-Tweed, the Isle of 
Man, Tilbury Fort, Cork, and the Isle 
of Wight. 

That the officers employed on this 
service, upon being approved by tlie 
Commander in Chief, are to be gazetted, 
and have temporary rank in the army. 

That government in the first instance 
is to issue an advance, in order to enable 
the levy to proceed. 

And it is humbly hoped, if the chiefs 
of this levy carry into prompt and suc- 
cessful effect (which they pledge them- 
selves to do) a measure of such magni- 
tude and importance, that their exertions 
will have tlie honour of meeting the ap- 
probation and consideration of his lloy- 
al Highness the Commander in Chief. 

And notwithstanding the high boun- 
ties now given to recruits for the army 
of reserve and militia, they aie now 
prep.ared to commence the proposed 
levy immediately, trusting to their stre- 
nuous exertions and attention. 
J. Fhencii, 

Colonel, laic 102d Foot. 
II. Sandon, 
Late lieut-col. of North Middlesex regi 
of Militia, and now captain in the 
Royal \V. Train. 
London, Fob, 1st, 18Q1. 



168 



No. 2.— Proposals- to raise j.OOO men 
to complete the old regiments. 
To carry into efficient cflect a levy on 
so extensive a scale, it is submitted that 
the following non-commissioned officers 
should he allowed, which are consider- 
ably under tlie usual complement for tlie 
number of privates : 

90 Serjeants, 

PO Coporals, 

40 Drummers, 
with the usual allowance of paymaster, 
quarter-master, adjutant, and surj^eon. 
On completing- the first' 500 men, to be 
allowed to recommend three captains, 
two lieutenants, three cnsiji^ns, a quar- 
ter master and adjutant. On complet- 
ing the first thousand, to be allowed to 
recommend one field officer, two cap- 
tains, two lieutenants and tliree ensigns, 
and so on progressively until the whole 
levy of 5,000 men is completed. The 
officers recommended, ai'c not to dispose 
of their former commissions. To be 
allowed levy money at the rate of 151. 
for each approved recruit. 

The bounty to each recruit to be the 
same as that paid by the line. Slop 
cloathing at 11. 7s. 6d per man to be 
aUowed. 

J. French, 

Colonel late lG2d Foot. 

H. S.\NDOX, 

Capt. R. W. Train, and Deputy Lt. 
County of Middlesex. 

IMemorandum : 

The letter of service granted to colo- 
nel French and captain Sandon, is dated 
the 30th April 1804. 

The levy money was augmented from 
thirteen guineas to nineteen guineas for 
each approved recruit, from the 28th 
June, 1804. 

The levy was discontinued on the 
i3d April, 1805. C. U. 

No. 2. 
Note from colonel French to colonel 
Clinton, March 5th, 1804. 
Col. French presents his compliments 
to colonel Clinton : he hopes he will 
excuse his taking the liberty of request- 
ing to know, if the proposals submitted 
to the Commander in Chief' by col. 
French and col. Sandon, have met 
with llie approbation of his Royal 
Highness. 

March 5, 1804, 
'cil-strect Coffi:e-house, Strand. 



No. ,5. 
Copy of a letter from colonel Clinton 
to colonel French. 
Horse Guards, 7th March, 1804. 
Sir, 
In reply to your note of the 5th inst. 
I have it in cdmmand to acquaint you, 
that you should address yourself on the 
.subject of the proposal to which you 
allude to Lieutenant General Hewett, 
who will give it every consideration, and 
should he deem your plan to be eligible, 
will then submit it for the Commander 
in Chief's consideration. 
I am, &c. 
(Signed) W. Hs Clinton. 
Colonel French, 
Cecil-street Coffi;;e-house. 

No. 4. 
Letter from Colonel French to Colonel 
Clinton, dated 20th March, 1804 ;^ 
enclosing terms for raising a corps of 
5000 men for general service. 

Cecil-street Coft'ee-house, Strand, 
Sir, g^ March 20th, 1804 

In consequence o* the circumst-anco 
which you stated to me for consideration 
yesterday, respecting tlic terms proposed 
for raising a corps of 5000 men for ge- 
neral service, and as that point onlj', 
viz. the amount of levy money proposed 
for the recruits, appears to be objec- 
tionable to his Royal Highness the Com- 
mander in Chief ;" captain Sandon and 
myself, anxious to render our humble 
exertions acceptable to his Royal High- 
ness, herewith have the honour to inclose 
terms, wherein we have changed the 
levy money for each approved recruit 
from 121. to 10 guineas, which we hope 
will meet the approbation of his Royal 
Highness. 

I have the honour to be. 
Sir, 
Your most obedient humble servant, 
Colonel Clinton, J. French, 

&,c. 8tc. Etc. Col. late 102 foot. 



Proposals to raise 5000 men, to com- 
plete the old regiments. ^ , 

To be allowed to appoint 90 serjeants, 
9o corporal, and 60 drummers. 

Their subsistence to commence from 
the dates of their actual appointments 
as such. The one hjilf of the abpve to 
be reckoned as part of the complement 
of the first five hundred, and the re- 
mainder as part of the first thousand. 

To be allowed I07 money at the rate 



169 



of ten guineas for each recruit passed 
at the depots whichjj are hereafter men- 
tioned, together with their subsistence 
from the dates of attestations, but sub- 
sistence and slop clothing only for re- 
jected men. 

• Not to enlist any man above the 
ag-e or under the size directed by the re- 
cruiting instructions for the line. The 
same rule to apply respecting boys. 

Agreeably to what was allowed to the 
levies for general service the last war.' 

It is -proposed that for such recruit as 
may receive- an intermediate approval 
bv an inspecting field oftfcer of a district, 
and afterwards desert, an allowance 
will be made of three guineas, provided 
it appears no improper delay has taken 
place in sending such I'ccruit forward 
for final approval. 

That the men are to be engaged with- 
out limitation as to the period and place 
of their service ; and the corporals, when 
approved, are to be given to understand 

placed 
that they are liable to be drafted as pri- 
vates into the old regiments. Of the 
■(-.sergeants, the one half are to be allow- 
ed their discharge at the completion of 
the levy, if they desire it ; the remain- 
der, and the drummers, are to be trans- 
ferred as such. 

The actual expence for the clothing 
for effective 
and appointments of the » non-commis- 
sions officers and drummers to be pro- 
vided by government, 
allowed. 

^: Each man to be provided with the 
following slop clothing : — A plain red 
cloth jacket, so made as to button close 
to the body, and to have a stand up 
collar ; a short red waistcoat lined witli 
flannel ; a pair of long mixed-coloured 
cloth trowsers, and one plain black hat 
and cockade. 

That lie shall out of his bounty, be 
supplied on his final approval, with such 
necessaaies as are pointed out in the in- 
structions for the recruits of the line j 
and he shall be free fronm debt- 

§ That an allowance ia to be made 



*Qu. As to tlie number of boys, and the 
bounty to be allowed growing Inds, as regi- 
ments !uc allowed. 

fit is presumed that the public are not 
(obe cbarp;t'd with bounty for the Serjeants. 

4^ Qu. Wiiether any clothing is necessary 
till the recruits are appi-ovcd and attached to 
leginients. 

§ Very objectionable. 



for the slop clothiivg of one pound seven 
shillings and sixpence for each recruit 
sjjecified as above. 

*That the bounty to each recruit is to 
be the same as is now paid by the line. 

To be allowed during the levy the as- 
sistance of ten officers, whose names are 
to be stated to his Royal Highness the 
Commander in Chief for his approbation ; 
and such of these as may be upon tlic 
half-pay during their services, to be al- 
lowed full-pay. 

I'hat government in the first instance 
sliall grant an issue, in order to enable 
the levy to proceed without delay. 

fTo be allowed, during the levy, the 
usual allowance of adjutant, paymaster, 
surgeon and quarter master. 

t.\t the completion of tiie first 500 
men, to be allowed to recommend two 
captains, two lieutenants, two ensigns, a 
quarter master and adjutant. 

Upon completing +.'ie first 1000, to be 
allowed to recommend one field officer, 
one captain, two lieutenants, and two. 
ensigns ; and so on progressively until 
the levy is completed. 

The ofiicers recommended not to be 
allowed to dispose of their former com- 
missions. The dates of the commissions 
of the officers recommended to taka 
place from the date of the letter of ser- 
vice. 

The following dep6ts to be fi.xed upon 
where the recruits are to be finally ap- 
proved by an inspecting field officer, or 
other officer, as the Commander in Chief 
may judge proper to authorize : — Tilbury 
Forf,§ the Isle of Wight, the Isle of 
ISian, § Edinburgh § or Berwick on Tweed, 
Cork,§ l)ublin.§ 
J. French, 

Colonel late 102 foot. 
II. Sandon, Capt. 11. Wag. Train, 
late Lieut. Col North Middx, 
Kegt. and Deputy Lieut, for tlic 
county of Middx. 
Cecil-street Coffee-house, Strand, 

20th March, 1804. 
2:^ for growing lads. 
4 guineas for men. 

* Care must be taken to secui-e the recruits 
receiving the bounty. 

•j- Provided Uiey are effective. 

^ Tills appears a very olijectionable mca 
sure. It uouldjinour humble opiuion.s, b«; 
preferable to give col. French a considerable 
compensation on tlie completion of his levy, 
than to open this door to abuse, and give «p 
such a degree of patronage to an individnal 

§ Objectionable. 



17» 



No. 5. 
Letter from €olouel Frencli to Colonel 

Clinton; diited 15th April, 1804. — 

(Three inclosnres.) 

Colonel French, trusting to the known 
goodness of his Royal Highness the Com- 
mander in Cliief, presumes to offer some 
observation respecting the terms (in be- 
half of himself and cairtain Sandon) 
which he had the honour of la3ing- before 
his Royal Highness, for raising a corps 
of 5000 for general service, aitd those 
which have been communicated by colo- 
nel Clinton. He begs, in the first instance, 
to refer his Royal Highness to a compar- 
ative statement, herewith inclosed, be- 
tween the proposal he had the honour to 
lay before his Royal Highness for raising 
5000 men for general service, and the 
plan adopted by government to raise an 
equal number by regiments. The differ- 
ence in favour of the plan of the levy, in 
point of saving to the public, is obvious. 
However, it appears that government, 
instead of granting the recommendation 
of commissions in raising the levy, are 
disposed to allow a specific sum above 
the levy money ; which sum, colonel 
Clinton has mentioned, it is proposed 
should be two guineas, a consideration 
by no ineans one half of what would have 
been allowed (thoug-h so favourable as 
has been made appear to government) 
by thej commissions. 

From the insight and knowledge pos- 
sessed by his Royal Highness of the re- 
cruiting service, it is scarcely necessary 
to I'epresent the various heavy extra ex- 
pences attending an undertaking of such 
magnitude, the veiy great attention and 
activity required on the part of the un- 
dertakers, with great attendant charges ; 
the absolute necessity (besides a multi- 
plicity of rendezvouses) of having, in the 
most populous towns, houses fitted up as 
barracks, with every kind of convenience 



for the accommodation and health of the 
recruits ; the risk of bad debts by the 
imprudence of some officers, which, with 
every precaution, commanding officers 
are liable to, particularly on the present 
extended scale. In short, the various 
expences attendant on such a service 
cannot but absorb or at least very nearly, 
the two guineas proposed. Under these 
circumstances, and fully confident of his 
Royal Highness's liberality blended with 
public economy, it is humbly proposed 
to the Commander in Chief, tliat further 
addition of two guineas, under whatever 
head his Royal Highness may judge most 
proper, may be allowed. 
No. 9, Duke-street, Adclphi, 
April 15, 1804. 



C. L. acquaints Col. French that his 
Royal Highness cannot recommend any 
other terms being acceded to than those 
with wliich he has been made acquainted. 



The following is submitted to the con- 
sideration of his Royal Highness the Com- 
mander in Chief: 

J. French, 

Col. late 102 foot. 

For the further encouragement and 
expediting the completion of the levy, 
the sum of two guineas per man (under 
the head oibrin^n^ money) will be allow- 
ed in your public accounts, to be disposed 
of in such manner as you shall judge most 
conducive to the purposes for which it is 
intended. 



Difference of expences to govern- 
ment, on the reduction to half-pay (ex- 
clusive of the period of full-pay), between 
a levy proposed of 5000 men for general 
service, and tlie same number of men to 
be raised in five regiments of 1000 men 
each upon the plan now adopted by go- 
vernment. 



Officers for the levy 
in proportion as it advances to 
completion. 



Officers for 5 Ee^ments. 



Difference. 



Field Officers 5 

Captains - 15 

Lieutenants 20 

F.nsigns ------.--20 



!.'■ 11 r\ai CLt. Colonels 5^ ,„ 

l-ield Officers < ^. ■ r J- 10 

(^ Majors - 5 3 

Captains ----■ SO 

Lieuts. 2 per company of 100 men 100 
Ensigns - SO 



5 F'd Offic'rs 

35 Captains 
80 Lieuten'ts 
30 Ensigns 

Total difference — 5 field officers — o5 captains — 80 lieutenants — 30 ensigDS. Ad- 
ditional charge upon the half-pay list to that of raising 5000 by the proposed levy 
for general service. 



V7l 



No. 6. 
Copy of a letter from colonel Clinton to 
colonel French ; dated 18tli April, 
1804. — (One inclosure.) 

Horse Guards, 

Sir, 18th April 1804. 

I have it in command, to return you a 

copy of the proposals you made to raise 

5,000 men to complete the old regiments 

of the line, with the Commander in 



Chief's remarks In red ink ; and to ac 
quaint you in reply to your letter of the 
15th instant, that his Royal Highness 
cannot recommend any other terms being 
acceded to, than those herewith trans- 
mitted. 

I am, &c. 
(Signed) W. H. Clinton. 
Colonel French, 
No. 9, Duke-street, Ad^phi. 



PROPOSALS to ra\se 5,000 men to complete the old regiments. 



The non-commissioned officer^s and drum- 
mers to be previously approved of by an 
inspecting Ji eld officer of a recruiting dis- 
trict. 

The drummers to be of the same age and 
standard of boys, as specified in the recruit- 
' ing instructio'iis. 

Such as are opprored at the appointed 
depots^. 



To be allowed to appoint 90 Serjeants 
90 coporals, and 60 drummers. 



Their subsistence to commence from 
the dates of their actual appointments as 
such. The one half of the above to be 
reckoned as parts of the complement of 
the first 500, and the remainder as part 
of the first 1,000. 



Thirteen guineas houiUy for men. The 
bounty alloiued and sum after mentioned 
is to cover every expence ; consequently no 
cJiarge as subsistetice for rejected men, or 
any charge for slop clothing luill be al- 
lowed, as the recruits on approval will be 
clothed at the depot by the regiments to 
■which they are appointed. 

JVo subsistence can be allorved for any 
recruit, but from the date of approval at 
the several depots ,■ but luith a viexu to 
cover any extra expences that may be in- 
curred by the men having been enlisted a 
considerable time previous to their being 
approved. Colonel French ivill be alloiued 
to enlist ten boys in each hundred recndts 
for whom he will receive the same bounty 
a7id allotvcvice as for the others. 

As the final approval is to take place 
at the depots, no intermediate approval is 
to be alloived. 



The Drummers the saltie. 



To be allowed levy money at the rate 
of ten guineas for each recruit passed at 
the depots, which are hereafter-men- 
tioned, together with their subsistence, 
from the dates of attestations ; but sub- 
sistence and slop clothing only for re- 
jected men. 

Not to enlist any man above the age, 
or under the size directed by the recruit- 
ing Instructions for the line. The same 
rule to apply respecting boys. 

Agreeably to M'hat was allowed to t^^e 
levies for general service last war. 



It is proposed that for such recruit as 
may receive an intermediate opproval by 
an inspecting field officer of a district, 
and afterwards desert, allowance will be 
made of three guineas, provided it ap- 
pears no improper delay has taken place 
in sending such recruit forward for final 
approval. 

That the men are to be engaged with- 
out limitation as to the period and place 
of their service ; and the corporals when 
approved are to be given to understand 
that they are liable to be drafted as pri- 
vates in the old regiments. 



* The Remarks here printed in /fs/jc*, w^re, in the ii»aaus»ript copy, \vritten in red iijk. 



172 



The -whole of the mn-f.omnyisdoned offi- 
cers must necessarily be enlisted in the Jirst 
instance as privates, such onh/ receivinff 
the bounty as may afterivanls be posted to 
such regular corps as the Commander in 
Chief 7nay direct, and which bounty can on- 
ly be paid^'he7i so posted. 

Referred to the inclosed paper. 



The clothing, S/c. to be furnished for 
tlie effectives by government. 



^9s the recndts on their approval at 
the depot will be immediately posted to 
regiments, no slop clothing appears requi- 
site. 



Answered by the foregoing remark. 



DiU9. 



Of the Serjeants, the one half are to 
be allowed their discharge at the com- 
pletion of the levy, if they desire it ; the 
remainder, and the di'ummers, ai-e to 
be transferred as such. 



The actual expence for the clothing 
and appointments of the non-commis- 
sioned officers and drummers to be al- 
lowed. 

Each man to be provided with the 
following slop clothing : a plain red 
clotli jacket, so made as to button close 
to the body, and to have a stand up col- 
lar ; a short red waiscoat lined with 
flannel ; a pair of long mixed coloured 
cloth trowsers ; and one plain black hat 
and cockade. 

That he shall, out of his bounty, be 
supplied, on his final approval, with 
such necessaries as are pointed out iu 
the instructions for recruits of tlie line, 
and he shall be free from debt. 

That an allowance is to be made for 
slop clothing of one pound seven shil- 
ings and sixpence for each recruit spe- 
cified as above. 

That tlie bounty to each recruit is to 
be the same as is now paid by the line. 



Ojt approi'al the recruit must certify 
that he has received the whole of the boun- 
ty he has been promised. 

JVo objection ; but it is to be clearly un- 
derstood, that the government I'cser-ves to 
itself the power of discontinuing the levy 
in toto, if 4000 men are not raised and 
passed at the depot in nine months from 
the signing of this letter of service, or 
that the 5000 have not been raised and 
passed in thirteen months from the same 
date. 



JSTot necessary, as they are to be passed 
at the depot ,■ but an officer above the ten 
•uiill be allowed, who must be resident at 
each of the depots during the levy. 

In lieu of any nomination of officers, an 
allowance at the rate of two guineas per 
man, over and above the beforenamed sum 
of tldrteen guineas, shall be paid, when- 
ever 500 men shall have beat' passed at 
the depot, and that for every other 500 
men so passed, the like additional sum of 
two guineas will be allowed by government, 
which is considered to be a very ample gra- 
tif cation for the possible risk or failure 
in the undertaking. 



To be allowed during the levy the as- 
sistance of ten officers, whose names are 
to be stated to his Royal Highness the 
Commander in Chief for his approbation, 
and such of these as may be upon tlie 
half-pay during their services, to be al- 
lowed full pay. 

That government in the first instance 
shall grant an issue, in order to enable 
the levy to proceed without delay. 

To be allowed during the levy the 
usual allowance of Adjutant, Paymaster, 
Surgeon and Quartermaster. 

At the completion of the first 50Q 
men, to be allowed to recommend two 
captains, two lieutenants, two ensigns, 
a quartermaster, and adjutant. 

Upon completing the first thousand, 
to be allowed to recommend one , field 
officer, one captain, two lieutenants, and 
two ensigns, and so on progressively, un- 
til the levy is completed. 

The officers recommended not to [be 
allowed to dispose of their former com- 
missions. The dates of the commis- 
sions of the officers recommended to 
uke place froni the date of the letter of 
service. 



The Isle of Wight, liublin, and Edin- 
burgh to be the only depots. 



Cecil-street Coffee-house, Strand, 
20th March, 1804. 



The following depdts to be fixed upon 
where the recruits are to be finally ap- 
proved by an inspecting field officer, or 
other officer, as the Commander in Chief 
may judge proper to authorize : — Tilbu- 
ry Fort, the Isle of Wight, the Tsle of 
Man, Edinburgh or Berwick on Tweed, 
Cork, Dublin. 
(Signed) J. French, Colonel late 102d. Regt. 

H. Sandon, Captain R. Waggon Train, 
late Lieut. Col. N. Middlesex Regi- 
ment, and Deputy Lieutenant for thfe 
county of Middlesex. 



dated 20th April, 1804— 



No. 7. 
Letter from Colonel French to Colonel Clinton 

(One Inclosure.) 

No. 9, Duke-street, Adelphi, mainder on completing the first one 

Sir, April 20th, 1804. thousand. The serjeants of course to be 

1 have the honour herewith to return attested as privates. It is submitted that 

the terms proposed on the part of capt. it would appear singular to the serjeants, 

S.andon and myself (with the remarks of that no bounty should be allowed them, 

the Commander in Chief,) for raising until so distant a period as the comple 



5000 men for general service. We trust 
his Royal Highness will have the good- 
ness to take into favourable considera- 
tion the observations inserted in the mar- 
gin, as well as those herewith Inclosed, 
which are referred to in the margin. 

I have the honour to be. Sir, 
Your most obedient humble servant. 
Colonel Clinton, J. French, 

&c. &c. Col. late 102d. Foot. 



Memorandum from Colonel French. 

The reason for submitting that one 
half of the serje.ants should be discharged 
at the conclusion of levy (agreeably to 
what was allowed in former levies,) is 
because it has generally been judged ex- 
pedient to employ a certain number of 
steady and experienced persons as ser- 
jeants ; men very proper as recruiters, 
but not perhaps fit for active service.* 



tion of the levy, when attested aiid pass- 
ed at the commencement. It would oc- 
casion a great loss of time and expence 
to send the serjeants and drummers to 
the Isle of Wight for approval, as tliey 
would have to march from distant and 
different parts of the empire, and return. 
But it is to be understood these serjeants 
and drummers are again ultimately to be 
brought forward, and disposed of hito 
regiments of the line. 



Copy of a Letter from Colonel Clinton 
to Colonel French, dated 20th April, 
1804 — (One inclosure.) 

Morse Guards, 

Sir, 20th April, 1804. 

Having laid before the Commander in 

Chief your letter of shis day, submitting 

for his Royal Highness's consideration, 

alterations proposed in your 



certain 
We farther submit, that the levy of terms for raising men ; I have it now in 
one h.alf of the serjeants will be allowed command to return the enclosed papers, 
on completing the first 500, and the re- by which you will observe how far his 

Roval Highness has been pleased to ac- 



* The Commander in Chief agrees to one 
half of the serjeants being discharged as re- 
quired ; but in the first instance they must 
be enlisted and attested as privates, in order 
that they may be amenable to military law ; 
but at the same time it may be noted in their 
attestations, that they are to be discharged on 
die completion or discontinuing of the levy. 
— Those who may be approved as fit for ser- 
vice, will be allowed the bounty on approval 
at any of the depots. 



cede thereto, and to acquaint you, that 
on your signifjing to me your readiness 
to undertake the levy on the terms spe- 
cified, the necessary directions will be 
given for expediting a letter of service, 
to enable you to proceed therewith. 
I have, &.C. 
(Signed) W. H. Clint o.v. 

Colonel Frencli, 
No. 9j Duke-Street, Adelphi, 



174 



flic CniAmdneki' in Chief agrees to one 
half of the Serjeants being discharged as 
required, Intt in the first irstance they must 
all be enlisted and attested as privates, in 
order that they may be amenable to military 
law ; but at th^ same time it may he noted 
in their attestations, that they are to be diS' 
charged on the completion or disco7itinuing 
of the levy- 

Those -who may be approved as Jit for 
service, ivill be alloived the bounty on ap- 
proval at atiy of the depots. 



^fEMORANDA from colonel 
French. 

The reason for submitting-, that one 
half of the Serjeants should be discharged 
at the conclusion of the levy (agree- 
ably to what was allowed in former le- 
vies) is because it has generally been 
judged expedient to employ a certain 
number of steady and experienced per- 
sons as Serjeants ; men very proper as 
recruiters, but not perhaps fit for active 
service. 

We further submit, that the levy of 
one half of the Serjeants will be allowed 
on completing the first 500, and the 
remainder on completing the first 1000. 
The Serjeants of course to be attested as 
privates. 

It is submitted that it would appear 
singular to the Serjeants, that no bounty 
should be allowed them until so distant 
a period as the completion of the levy, 
when attested and passed at the com- 
mencement. It would occasion a great 
loss of time and expence to send the Ser- 
jeants and drummers to the Isle of 
Wight for approval, as they would have 
to march from distant and different parts 
of the empire and return. But it is to 
be imderstood, these Serjeants and drum- 
mers are again ultimately to be brought 
forward, and disposed of into regiments, 
of the lin^. 



Letter from Colonel French to Colonel Clinton. 



9, Duke-strcct, Adelphi, 
Sir, April 21st, 1804. 

I have the honoiu* to acknowledge the 
receipt of your letter of yesterday's date, 
inclosing the terms, with certain altera- 
tions, upon which the Commander in 
Chief will be pleased to grant a letter of 
service. I herewith return the ^ame, 
and, on the partof capt. Sandon and my- 
self, beg leave to say we accept the same. 
I have the honour to be, Sir, 
Your most obedient humble servant. 
Colonel Clinton, J.French, 

$i;c. &c. Colonel late 102d Foot. 



the inclosed copy of proposals made by 
Colonel French and captain Sandon, for 
raising 5000 men to complete the regi- 
ments of the line ;.and from the remai'k.s 
(in red ink) made thereon by his Royal 
Highness, Mr. Bragge will be enabled to 
judge how far the terms have been ac- 
ceded to ; and I have therefore to request 
that you will be pleased to move Mr. 
Bragge to give the hecessary directions 
for {expediting a letter of service, to en- 
able colonel French and captain Sandon 
to proceed with their levy. 

I have, &c. 
Francis Moore, esq. (Signed) 

he. Sec. &c. W. H. Clinto:. 



No. 10. 

Copy of a Letter from Colonel Clinton to 

Mr. Moore. 

Sir, 23d April, 1804. 

I am commanded by the Commander 

in Chief to transmit for the purpose of 

being laid before tlie Secretary at War, 



No. 11. 
Letter from Mr. Moore to col. Clinton. 
War-Office, 
Sir, 26th April, 1804. 

I have the Secretary at War's direc- 



i7i 



tioos to transmit herewith for tlie consi- 
deration of the Commander in Chief, the 
draug-ht of a letter of service to col- 
onel French and captain Sandon, framed 
according' to the terms inclosed in yoair 
letter of the 23d instant. 

You will be pleased to state to his Roy- 
al Highness, that Mr. Bragge, adverting 
to what has taken place in former levies, 
is induced most particularly to recom- 
mend that it should be a condition of the 
engagement now under consideration, 
that the recruits should receive the fidl 
bounty required by the general recruit- 
ing' instructions ; or that, at all events, 
the bounty to be paid to each recruit 
should not be less than a certain sum 
fixed by the letter of service. 

I have the honour to he, Sir, 

Your most obedient humble servant. 
Colonel Clinton, F. Moore. 

&c. &c. &.C. 



No. 12. 
Copy of a letter from colonel Clinton to 
Mr. Moore. 
Sir, Srth April, 1804. 

Having laid before the Commander in 
Chief your letter of yesterday's date, 
transmitting drafts of aletter of service 
to colonel French and capt. Sandon (here- 
with returned,) and stating the secretary 
at war's opinion, " that it should be a 
condition of the engagement, that the re- 
cruits should each receive the full boun- 
ty required by the general recruiting in- 
structions, or that the bounty should not 
he less than a certain sum fixed by the 
letter of service ;" I have it in command 
lo acquaint you, for Mr. Bragge's infor- 
mation, that as each recruit, on approval 
at the depot, is to sign a certificate that 
he has received the full bounty promis- 
ed him, his Royal Highness thinks that 
the consequences, which Mr. Bragge 
seems to apprehend, from no certain sum 
being fixed as bountj', ai-e not likely to 
ensue, and that therefore the article al- 
luded to may remain as already fixed on. 

Tlie Commander in Chief howevei' 
suggests, that a clause should be insert- 
ed witli a letter of service, requiring? that 
a sum, equal to what may be fixed by 
the recruiting instructions in force at the 
time, should be deducted from the levy 
money allowed to furnish the recruits 
with such necessaries as may be requi- 
site on their final approval at the depots 
specified. 

I have, &c. 
Francis Moore, esq. (Signed) 

&C. &C. &C. W.U.Chl^TON. 



No. 13. 
Copy of a letter from the secretary at 
war to colonel French, of the late 
102d foot, and captain Sandon, of tl\e 
Royal Waggon Train. — (Letter of s«r- 
vice.) 

War-Office, 30th April, 1301. 
Gentlemen, 
I have the Iwnour to acquaint you, 
his Majesty has been pleased to approve 
of your raising five thousand men, to be 
turned over to the regiments of the line 
in liis Ma.jesty's service, upon the fol- 
lowing conditions : — The recruits are to 
be engaged without limitation as to time 
and place of service. You will be al- 
lowed thirteen guineas levy money for 
each recruit finally approved at one of 
tl>e following depots ; viz. the Isle of 
Wight, Dublin, and Edinburgh ; out of 
Vhicl: levy-money a sum equal to what 
may be fixed by the recruiting instruc- 
tions in force at the time is to be ap- 
propriated to furnishing the recruits 
with necessaries on their final approval, 
exclusive of the actual sura wliich may 
have been received by the recruit. The 
subsistence of the recruits, the extra 
allowance to inn-keepers, the allowance 
for beer, and any other daily charge, 
will only be allowed to commence from 
the date of approval of each recruit ; 
but with a view to coyer any extra ex- 
penses that you may incur, by the men 
being enlisted a consideralilc time be- 
fore their approval, you will be allowed 
to enlist ten boys in every 100 recruits, 
for whom j'ou will receive the same 
bounty and allowances as per men. 
The men aid boys respectively are to 
be of the age and size directed by the 
general recruiting instructions of tlie 
army. No charge for slop clothing, 
for the non-commissioned ofliccrs or 
recruits will be admitted, as, on ap- 
pi'oval, the latter will be clothed at llic 
depots by the regiments to which they 
shall be at once attached. No inter- 
mediate approval of the recruits is to 
take place ; and, consequently, ueitlier 
bounty, subsistence, nor any other 
charge will bs allowed for such as shall 
be rejected at the several depots. Eacix 
recruit, on approval at the dojiot, is to 
sign a certificate, that he received the 
full bounty promised to him. You will 
be allowed to appoint 90 Serjeants, 90 
corporals, and 60 drummers, who must 
be previously approved by an inspecting 
field officer of a recruiting district. The 
drummers are to be of the age and 
stancjard of boys, as specified in the 



ir6 



recnritlng- instructions. Tlic subsistence 
of the above-mentioned non-commis- 
sionecl officers and drummers is to com- 
mence from the dates of their actual 
appointment as such. Half of them, if 
finally approved at the depots, are to be 
reckoned as part of the complement of 
the first five hundred recruits for your 
levyj and the remainder as part of tlie 
first thousand. The corporals and 
drummers are to be given to under- 
stand, that they are liable to be drafted 
as privates into the old regiments. 

The whole of tlie non-commissioned 
officers and drummers must, in the first 
instance, be enlisted and attested as pri- 
vates, and these attestations transmit- 
ted to this office immediately on ap- 
proval. One half of the Serjeants may 
be enlisted with the condition of their 
being discharged at the conclusion of 
the levy, which circumstance is to bo 
noticed in their respective attestations. 
The bounty of thirteen guineas will be 
allowed for such of the non-commis- 
sioned officers and drummers as shall be 
fmally approved at the depots, as part 
of your levy. Clothing will be provid- 
etl, under the orders of government, for 
the effective non-commissioned officers 
and drummers employed as above- 
mentioned. You will be allowed, during 
the levy, the assistance of ten offi'cers, 
whose names are to be stated to his 
Royal Highness the Commander in 
Chief for his approbation ; and such of 
these officer.s as may be on half pay, 
are to receive full pay during their 
service with your levy subsequently ta 
such approval. As tlie men are to be 
passed at the depots, it is not thought 
necassary to make you an allowance for 
an adjutant, paymaster, surgeon, or 
quarter-master, but an officer above the 
ten will be allowed, to be 4'esident at 
each depot during the levy. In lieu of 
g-iving you permission to nominate any 
officers for commissions, an allowance 
at the rate of two guineas per man, over 
and above the before-mentioned sum of 
tliirteen guineas will be made to you 
whenever 500 men shall be passed at 
the depots ; and for every 500 men sub- 
sequently passed, the like extra allow- 
ance of two guineas per man will be 
made to you. The stipulated allowance 
of thirteen guineas each, for tlie ap- 
proved recruits, will be issued imme- 
diately on their approval, by the pay- 
masters residing at the respective de- 
pots, by draughts upon the agents of y^e 



corps to which the tnen and boys may 
be attached, and the recruits will be 
afterwards subsisted through the same 
channel, or by the district paymasters, 
until they join regiments. The pay of 
the commissioned officers, non-com- 
missioned officers, and drummers, em- 
ployed in the levy, is to be received 
fi-om the paymasters of the recruiting 
district in which they shall be respec- 
tively stationed, who will draw for the 
same upon the general agents for re- 
cruiting in London and Dublin respec- 
tively, rendering distinct pay lists of 
tTieir expenditures on this head to this 
office. If, however, any of the commis- 
sioned officers should be on full pay 
in the existing regiments, the distinct 
pa^^nasters will draw for the pay of 
such officers on their respective regi- 
mental agents, in the same manner as 
for that of other officers employed in 
the recruiting service. In consequence 
of this arrangement, it is presumed 
that your advances, on account of the 
levy, will be so inconsiderable as 
scarcely to require any imprest of mo- 
ney into your hands, in the first in- 
stance, but if you should find some as- 
sistance absolutely necessary, there will 
be no objection to your receiving a mo- 
derate sum on account, giving security 
for the immediate repayment thereof 
when desired. It is to be clearly un- 
derstood, that government reserves to 
itself the discretion of discontinuing 
the levy entirely, in case 4,000 men are 
not raised and passed within nine 
months from the date of this letter, or 
in case the whole 5,000 men are not 
raised and passed within thirteen months 
from the same date. In the execution of 
this service I am to assure you of every 
assistance that this office can afford. 
I have, &c. 
(Signed) C. Bragge, 
Colonel French, of the late 102 foot, and 
Captain Sandon, of the Royal Waggon 
Train. 



No. 14. 
Copy of a letter from Colonel Clinton 
to F. Moore, esq. — (With two En- 
closures.) 

Horse Guards, 31st May, 1804. 
Sir, 
I am directed by the Commander in 
Chief to refer to you herewith a note 
from colonel French, relati^-e to the 



177 



pay of the non-cotnmlssloncd officers 
and drummers of his new levy; and his 
Royal Higliness thinking, from the cir- 
cumstances stated, that there appears 
no objection to what is requested by the 
Colonel, in regard to the subsistence of 
his non-commissioned officers and 
drummers, provided that any back pay 
that may be issued for them be actually 
received by them, and for which their 
acknowledgements will be of course re- 
quired, desires tliat you will be pleased 
to lay tlie same before the Sccretaxy at 
War, with his recommendation that 
colonel French's request may be com- 
plied with. I have, &c. 

(Signed) W. H. Clintoit. 

Francis Moore, esq. 
■ . S;c. kc. 



Sir, 



Horse Guards, 25th June, 1804 



I I am commanded by the Commander 
in Chief, to acquaint you, for the infor- 
mation of the Secretary at War, that in 
consequence of the levy money for re- 
cruits for general service being raised to 
nineteen guineas, colonel P'rench and 
captain Sandon are to receive the aug- 
mented levy money for each approved re- 
cruit raised by them, 

I have, &c. 
(Signed) W^. H. C l i x x o jr. 

F. Moore, esq. 



Copy of a letter from the Deputy Se- 
cretary at War to colonel French and 
captain Sandon ; dated 28th June, 
1804. 

War-Office, 28th June, 1804. 
Sir, 
The rate of levy money for the in- 
fantry of the line having been augmented 
to nineteen guineas, by the general or- 
ders from heaU-quarters, dated 16th in- 
stant, I am directed to acquaint you, 
that the like sum will be allowed for 
each of your recruits raised subsequently 
to the receipt hereof, instead of thirteen 
guineas, as specified in your letter of 
service. I am, &c. 

Colonel French. (Signed) F. Moosjie. 
Captain Sandon. 

No. 15. 

London, Cecil Street Coffee-house, Strand. 

Sir, Ht January 15th, 1805. 

Your Royal Highness I hope will have 

the goodness to excuse: this intrusion, as 



my intention was to have done myself the 
honour of personally presenting the en- 
closed letter to your Royal Highness tliis 
day, but on account of your Royal High- 
ness's not holding a levee, I presume to 
take the liberty of transmitting it in this 
manner. The particular situation in 
which I obviously stand with Brigadier 
General Taylor, who inspects my re- 
cruits in Ireland, and a delicacy not to 
be troublesome to your Royal Highness, 
has hitherto lield me silent on the subject 
ofUrig-adier General Taylor'.s most un- 
accountable and persevering hostility to 
my levy. It is with concern I must de- 
clare that he has, with diligence, taken 
every step to render abortive my unre- 
mitted exertions to carry into effect the 
intentions of your Royal Highness in 
honouring me with the letter of service. 
At length I feel myself called upon, by 
duty, and in justice to myself, to state 
the circumstance. The present Inspector 
General having lately had the goodness 
to give instructions to Brigadier Genex'al 
Taylor, relative to some arrangements of 
my non-commissioned officers, I com- 
municated the same to Quarter-master 
Fawcett, of the levy, recruiting in Dublin 
(for his guidance) who waited upon Bri- 
gadier General Taylor on the occasion. 
The reception he met with is stated in 
his letter ; and it is with deep regret I 
must add, that this proceeding, on the 
part of the Deputy Inspector General in 
Ireland, is but a continuation of what my 
levy has experienced from him since its 
commencement there. 

I have the honour to be. 
Sir, 
Your Royal Highness's 

respectful and dutiful servant, 
J. French, 
His Royal Highness the Com- ColoneL 
mander in Chief, &.c. Sec. 8cq. 



(Private!) Dublin, 

Sir, 8th Jan, 1808. 

The esteem I have for you, and zeal 
for his Majesty's service, I am sorry to 
say leaves it out of my power to forward 
your levy as I could wish, from the treat- 
ment I have received from Brigadier 
General Taylor. Your letter, dated the 
3d instant, I received the 6th, afternoon ; 
and the next moi-ning waited on Lieut. 
Morton with it ; he desired me to take it 
to general Taylor. The general looked 
at it, read part, threw it on the table ; 
said he knew nothing about it, or word* 
to that effect. After a short pause, he 



J?8 



raised his voice, and said lie luid received 
a letter, laying' his hand upon it, it being' 
open before him. He then bcg-an about 
the Serjeants ; then the money, the Ser- 
jeants and the money, so that I was 
heartily tired of his sermon. After some 
time he concluded witli saying' " you are 
no levy ; how came you by that name 
of levy ;" nor did lie, in part of his ora- 
tion, forget the word crimp. It would 
take a quire of paper to give you a full 
detail. Adjutiuit Fosse was the only- 
person present. Like on former occa- 
sions it may be denied ; but I give you 
iny honour tliat what I have stated are 
facts. I wish you to come here as soon 
• » as possible : he is doing- every thing ui 
his power to tlirow us on our backs : I 
am so hurt,l have not spirits to carry on 
your business : I am sorry to distress 
your mind ; but it is impassible for me to 
stand it. 1 am, Sir, 

Colonel French, Your obedient servant, 
&c. Sec. cic. Owen Fav.ce tt. 



No. 16. 
Copy of Colonel Gordon's Letter to IVfr. 
Kirkman, 19ih Jan. 1805, sending co- 
pies of Col. French's Letter (No. 10.) 
Horse Guards, 19lh Januaiy, 1805. 
Sir, 
I have the commands of the Com- 
mander in Chief to transmit to you, for 
tlie information of lord Cathcart, a copy 
of a letter and its enclosures, from Colo- 
nel French,* in which that officer com- 
plains that the deputy inspector general 
ibr the recruiting service, in Ireland, has 
taken every step to render abortive his 
unremitted exertions to carry into effect 
the intentions of the Commander in Chief, 
in honouring him with a letter of service, 
and I am commanded to desire, lliat the 
deputy inspector g-eneral may be called 
upon to explain the circumstances to 
which colonel French alludes, as although 
his Royal Highness is sensible of the du- 
ties incumbent on tli.e deputy inspector 
general, to presci-ve a vigilant control 
over the various branches of his depart- 
ment, and to check and report upon every 
irregularity that may take place in the 
conduct of officers and persons engaged in 
the recruiting service in Ireland, yet his 
Hoyal Higlmess thinks it equally just that 
every fair indulgence should be given to 
every officer to enable him to act witli fii- 

* loth Januar\ . 



cility according to tlie terms in whirh iieij 
bound by his instructions; and I am furtfief 
to desire you may be pleased to move his 
lordship to examine the letter of service* 
under which colonel French acts, and to« 
give such directions thereupon, as may ■ 
tend to put a stop to further represen- 
tation. I have, &c. 

(Signed) J. W. Gordon. 

P. S. Colonel French has been directed 
to repair forthwith to Ireland, and report 
his arrival to the commander of the forces. 

J. Kirkman, esq. 
&c. S;c. &c. 



No. 17. 
C. B. 0'en enclosures.) 

Acknowledge. 

Royal Hospital, 8lh Feb. 1805. 
Sir, 

Having In obedience to . the Comman- 
der in ChiePs commands conveyed in 
your letter of 19th January, by direction of 
Lieut. Gen. Lord Cathcart, called upon R. 
General Taylor for an explanation of the 
circumstances alluded to in the allega- 
tions set forth by colonel French's repre- 
sentation therein inclosed ; in answer, 
1 am now directed by his lordship to ac- 
quaint jou, for the information of his 
Royal Highness, that he has called for 
the letter of service, by virtue of whicii 
colonel French and cr.ptain Sandon carry 
on this levy, and that his lordship desired 
B. General Taylor to report upon the 
steps he has taken In conformity to the 
instructions he has received from time 
to time from the Inspector General, con- 
cerning the levy in question, and also to 
furnish him with answers to the points 
which his Royal Highness is pleased to 
notice for enquiry. 

The Brigadier General has in conse- 
quence delivered to Lieutenant General 
Lord Cathcart, the report and explana- 
tory papers herewith enclosed, which it 
Is requested may "'be submitted to his 
Royal Highness. 

Colonel French has not reported his 
arrival, nor is it known he ever has 
called upon tie commander of the forces 
in Ireland ; but undoubtedly he will 
have every facility and support afforded 
him which the recruiting instrtictlons 
and circumstances of the service can 
warrant. 

Lieutenant general lord Cathcart de- 
sires me to say, that it Ippears to him 
that the matters of complaint chai'gcd 



I 



179 



against brlgadier-general Tuylor by colo- 
nel Frt'iich, may be reduced to four 
heads : 

1st. The having objected to scndiiip^ a 
Serjeant of the levy, supposed to have 
been raised for the proportion intended 
for Ireland, out of this part of Ids Ma- 
jesty's dominions. 

2d. For having' refused to approve of 
. more than 45 scrjeants being- raised in 
Ireland witliout some proportion of pri- 
vates, ini til more explanatory instructions 
should be obtained from the inspector- 
general to autiiorize that measure, and 
until tlic Serjeants raised in this country- 
are broug-ht forward for final appi'oval. 

3d. Fur having- taken a beating- order 
from a person named O'Rielly, although 
g-iving beating orders to persons similarly 
situated had been allowed in the case of 
other levies. 

4th. For having- admonished quarter- 
jnastcr Owen Fawcett, in reg-ard to the 
conduct of the levy, in a manner the 
quarter-master did not approve ; and for 
having, in the course of what he had oc- 
casion to say to this person, made use of 
the word " crimp." 

In regard to the two first of these 
heads, the brigadier-general appears to 
have acted as it seemed to him, tlie in- 
structions he received from the inspector- 
general in regard to issuing Serjeants' 
clothing, explained the intention to be, 
but that he had submitted his doubts 
and observations to the inspector-general, 
whose decision had not arrived. 

With regard to the third case, tliat of 
O'Rielly, there is an explanatory paper, 
(Xo. 9,) by which it appears, that the 
inspector-general could not recognize 
this person as a proper officer to hold a 
beating order without further explana- 
tion. 

And in regard to the fourth case, the 
conversation with quarter-master Faw- 
cett, there is in the brigadier-genernl's 
report, a statement of what actually pass- 
ed, and which as it happens had not 
escaped the deputy inspector-general's 
recollection. Lieutenant-general lord 
Cathcart feel.s himself calkd upon, not 
to conclude his report without obiit-rving 
^generally, that l)rigadlcr-general Taylor 
has uniformly appeared to his lordship, 
to be remarkable for his diligence and 
assiduity in carrying on all the important 
duties entrusted to him ; that his lord- 
ship has on all occasions perceived in his 
conduct the greatest zcA for Uie increase 

24 



of his Majesty's disp^^osal force by ser- 
viceable recruits ; but his lordship never 
remarked in his proceedings, or heard 
that officer accused of any manner of 
partiality. 

I liavc the honour to be, Sir, 
Your most obedient humble servant, 

J. KlKKMAK. 



(Enclosure 1.) 
Sir, Dublin, 25th Jan. 1805. 

I have the honour of your letter of the 
24th inst. enclosing the copy of one from 
lieutenant-colonel Gordon, together with 
another from colonel French to his Royal 
Highness the Commander in Chief, and 
of one from quarter-master Fawcett to 
colonel French ; also directing me to 
transmit, for the information of the com- 
mander of the forces, a copy of the colo- 
nel's Jetter of service and of the instruc- 
tions under which he has undertaken his 
levy, and for me to report upon the sub- 
ject of colonel Frenth's letter to his Royal 
Highness, as likewise upon quarter-mas- 
ter Fawcctt's to the colonel. 

In obedience to these directions, hcrO/- 
with I enclose a copy of colonel French's 
letter of service, as also of such papers 
from No. 1. to 8. as I have received, that 
appertain to his and my own instructions ; 
but previous to my statement concerning 
the two letters in question, I beg leave to 
mention, that in May last I first received 
intimation that colonel French had un- 
dertaken to raise 5000 men in a given 
period ; and to enable him to eflect it, 
he was to have the assistance of a certain 
number of persons as officers, with 90 
Serjeants, 90 corporals, and 60 drum- 
mers, (me lialf of whom being intended 
for Ireland, (p. No. 8.) I was directed to 
provide clothing for. That imder certain 
conditions specified in the letter of ser- 
vice, and in the instructions, the colonel 
was to have a levy money of 21 guineas 
per man. One half of tlie Serjeants were 
to be fit for service agreeably to the re- 
cruiting regulations, to be attested as 
privates, but to be transferred as scr- 
jeants at the termination of the levy- 
The other half wore to be capable of the 
'recruiting service, and to Ijc discharged 
on tlie tcrminatloti of the colonel's levy. 
The corporals and drummers were also 
to be according to the recruiting regula- 
tions of their respective ranks, to be 
attested as privates, and transferred si's 



180 



privates, on the close of llic levy, to such 
corpe as his Hoyal Highness might be 
pleased to direct. The bpunty money 
payable to the whole of these persons, as 
well as to the privates, is not specified, 
but may be on whatever terms the colo- 
nel can malse his agreement ; and in 
order to prevent any future disagree- 
ment, in consequence of there not being 
a specified bounty to the recruit, I am 
directed to have a certificate of the agree- 
ment with colonel French, of such men 
as I finally approve of, which certificate 
I annex to the attestations, and is in form, 
No. 4. 

Towards the end of July last, I was 
given to understand that one serjcant 
who had been finally approved of, had 
been sent out of the country. This being 
signified to colonel French, he said he 
could send them to where he pleased, 
und on my replying that I should consi- 
der this man as one of the proportion of 
Serjeants allotted to Ireland, (having 
drawn the levy money for him,) he con- 
cluded with observing, he should appoint 
as many as he chose fox* Ireland. This 
conception of the instructions differing 
very materially from mine, I deemed it 
requisite to send a state of the levy to 
the inspector-genei'al, and to enquire to 
what extent I was to pass or approve of 
Serjeants for colonel French's levy. As 
to corporals and drummers, they never 
came into question, for to this moment 
he has not raised the proportion I sup- 
posed to be intended for Ireland, viz. 45 
corporals and 30 drummers. 

In answer to this query, I received the 
following, being an extract of a letter 
from lieutenant-colonel Carey, dated 26th 
July, 1804. "He, (alluding to the in- 
*' spector-general,) has thought it advis- 
" able to refer your query to the Com- 
" mander in Chief's consideration, and 
*' at the same time to lay before his Royal 
*' Highness a statement of the expenses 
*• of the levy, with a comparison of the 
** benefit derived to the public from the 
" contract ; from which it appears the 
" public has paid for some time past, 
" more than 101. per day for the subsist- 
" ence of parties, exclusive of marching 
*' money and bounties, for only six re- 
•' emits who had been approved of at the 
** time the calculation was made. Under 
** such circumstances you will of course 
" not act in conformity to colonel 
" French's desire, until further or- 
"ders.". 



This information was given to colonel 
French early in August ; at the same 
time I said, that as he wanted but few 
Serjeants to complete what I conceived 
to be his establishment for Ireland, and 
several of those he had were at that time 
only intermediately approved of, he had 
better bring them forward for final ap- 
proval, and use some greater exertion to 
get them, and have this part of the busi- 
ness over, particularly with the serjeants 
for permanent service, because he had 
more limited service serjeants than the 
others ; but that he must not expect I 
should exceed this number without fur- 
ther orders. 

Thus the levy continued with brining 
few forward imtil the middle of October 
last, when colonel French left Ireland, 
and when I thouglit I had passed the 4.5 
serjeants. I signified to quarter-master 
Fawcett in the November following, I 
could not pass any more fresh instruc- 
tions, and again urged the completion of 
the other part of the establishment, and 
to make some exertion to raise privates. 
The levy continued in this state until the 
beginning of this month, when I received 
the copy of a letter from colonel French 
to the inspector-general, accompanied 
with a memoranda from lieutenant-colo- 
nel Gordon, stating, that by colonel 
French's letter of service, " he was en- 
" titled to 90 serjeants, 90 corporals, 
" and 60 drummers, he should of course 
" be allowed to appoint them." 

No. 7. The day after I received those 
instructions quarter-master Fawcett call- 
ed, and shewed me colonel French's 
letter, the answer to this letter appears 
to be the one I have with your's of the 
24th,) which letter stated the purport of 
his intended regulations, being 63 Ser- 
jeants for Ireland, and at the rate of 9 
to each officer. Thus far quarter-master 
Fawcett's statement of my inattention 
to the letter is incorrect, for if my re- 
collection serves me it is nearly the 
words of it. I then mentioned to him 1 
was ready to inspect such persons as 
were brought forward ; and was not sur- 
prised at the exertion to be allowed to 
complete the full establishment of ser- 
jeants, because they were got for a gui- 
nea or two boimty, but there did not ap- 
pear to be the same attention to get cor- 
porals and drummers, although in a few- 
instances did the bounty to them exceed 
six or eight guineas, and as to privates 
they scarcely appeared to be intended as" 



ISi 



any part of the levy. After this I added 
I should have supposed, if the intention 
actually was to raise privates, some great- 
er exertion ought to have been made, if 
it was no more than to shew a disposition 
to make good the engagement, and to ful- 
fil his Royal Highness's expectation of 
so considerable a levy, so as to induce 
him to continue it. But situated as I 
was, I felt it incumbent on me to say, 
that the whole tenor of the proceedings 
of the levy since I saw it, went to pro- 
cure persons to whom scarcely any boun- 
ty was issued, and where a bounty be- 
came necessary no steps were taken to 
produce them. As to the appointment 
of Serjeants, I had offers daily for these 
situations, without any expectation of 
bounty, and no charge of bounty had 
been incurred by the nomination of any 
of those attached to the recruiting de- 
partment, although they were all for 
general service. That at that moment 
there was an application on the table, 
for whom I had not an immediate vacan- 
cy ; the Quarter-master on this had the 
modesty to desire he might be transfer- 
red to him ; to which I sharply said-i— 
AA'hat, Sir, do you think I am to act as 
crimp for you, you call yourselves a corps, 
but in fact you are a levy without men, 
and the few you have got stand govern- 
ment in 1501. per man. We then ])art- 
ed, on my again reminding him to bring 
forward as soon as he could the remain- 
ing non-commissioned officers colonel 
Trench intended for Ireland, for the not 
doing so there was hardly any excuse, 
particularly as he was aware, that the age 
and standard for this levy were more fa- 
vourable than to the line, being at 35 
years of age, and 5 feet 4 inches in height, 
whereas for the line and general service 
(except for the four yovmg regiments) it 
was at 30 years of age, and at 5 feet 5 
inches in height. 

This statement is in fact the purport 
of my conversation with Quarter-master 
Fawcett, and is the subject of his private 
letter to colonel French, it passed at my 
office and in presence of the adjutant, 
and I think fully accounts for what he is 
pleased to call my sermon upon the Ser- 
jeants and the money, and it by no means 
denotes any hostility to his levy, but 
ratlier shews an anxious desire to pro- 
duce men to the service. 

In regard to the representation made 
by colonel French to his Royal Highness, 
of my most unaccountable and jjerseve- 
1 ing hostiliy to his levy, and that I take 



every diligent step to render abortive 
his unremitted exertions to cary into ef- 
fect the intentions of his Royal Highness 
in g^'anting him a letter of service, I can 
safely say, that no act of mine has shew- 
ed a disposition to thwart his recruiting, 
but the contrary ; and if 1 was to have 
acted in strictness to my instructions, se- 
veral of the few men I have passed 
should have been dismissed merely ou 
account of colonel French's officers hold- 
ing out engagements to them as corporals 
and drummers, for the future disposal, 
that could not be made good ; and for 
asserting in their attestations a less boun- 
ty than they agreed for, wliich (on ac- 
count of their not being able to read) 
they knew nothing of until they came be- 
fore me. I do most solemnly declare the 
day of inspecting colonel Fi-ench's men, 
whenever it has hitherto happened, has 
been more a day for settling disputes be- 
tween them and tlie non-commissioned 
officers, than for passing of recruits. At 
several the colonel has been present, 
when it appeared that the agreements 
for inlisting were for a greater bounty 
than inserted in the attestation, and the 
engagements were to be transferred as 
corporals and drummers instead of as 
privates, consequently tlie inducemcnl to 
inllst for a less bounty is obvious. 

In repeated instances, from a wish to 
get men, I have prevailed upon them to 
agree to a transfer as privates, and at the 
same time signified to colonel French he 
should instruct his officers to prevent 
these continued disputes, some of which 
of a similar nature, since Ins absence, 
have been greater than before. 

In respect to tlie bounty paid to men 
raised in the country, tlie colonel's of- 
ficers are not satisfied with inducing- them 
to inllst at an under-rate of bounty, but 
in their payment of it they keep a run- 
ning account, and when they settle, the 
men have been charged with the pay 
given to them from their inlistment, as 
part of tile bounty. Colonel French is 
no stranger to this, and I believe in more 
than one instance, he has refunded the 
pay to the recruit, and said he would re- 
cover it from Ills officer. 

From these circumstances, I feel it ne- 
cessary to see the men and the publick 
done justice to, which I am convinced is 
the sole cause of the representation of 
my perseveringhostility to thelcvy. The 
certificate of the sums agreed to, and 
wrote on the back of several attestations, 
differing with what is originally inserted 



182 



in the front of them, will corroborate 
what I assert. 

1 now beg- to mention as a matter of 
information, that since colonel's French's 
levy commenced in Ireland in July last, 
there has been 48 Serjeants approved of 
to the 19th inst. of whom 2 have desert- 
ed, 1 drowned, 1 promoted to be an of- 
ficer, 1 reduced by sentence of a court 
martial, and sent to the Isle of Wight as 
private ; 2 more reduced by sentence 
of a court martial, and being for hmited 
service, are supposed to have been dis- 
missed, not being- returned as privates, 
leaving 41 forlh-comingfor transferrable 
and limited service, but including the one 
sent from Ireland ; besides 25 corporals, 
of whom 1 has deserted, and 15 drum- 
mers. These are the whole that the levy 
has produced of every description ex- 
cept 27 privates and 2 boys, of whom 8 
have deserted or have been taken up as 
deserters from other corps. Now as 
from the strength of the present number 
of persons to recruit (no less than 30 ex- 
clusive of officers) but — recruits are 
forthcoming, and not one returned since 
the 27th ult. it is scarcely possible to ex- 
pect much advantage, pai-ticularly as 
from the tenor of the contract there is 
no obligation to make it good. 

Should the whole of colonel French's 
non-commissioned officers be nominated 
and his engagements with them be ef- 
fected on the same terms as hithei-to, 
the advantage can be easily ascertained, 
Avhen the paj^ers before me shew, that 
the average bounty to each serjeant is 
under 2 guineas, to each corporal 7 gui- 
neas, and each drummer 6 guineas ; con- 
sequently when the harvest is reaped by 
the appointment of the non-commission- 
ed officers, there can be little reason to 
suppose from what has been done, that 
the proper exertions to obtain privates 
will afterwards be used. 

I cannot close this statement in reply to 
colonel French's representation, without 
observing, that no bounty is advanced to 
such recruits as arc raised in Dublin, un- 
til they are finally passed ; and unless ac- 
cidentlyseen when under surgical exam- 
ination, they are not noticed by any of the 
secruiting staff ; and it has happened re- 
peatedly, that quarter-master Fawcetthas 
stated (as sooii as the men are passed and 
completely offtherisk of colonel French's 
people)he was certain that particular men 
■would desert, and with a sneer recommen- 
ded me to keep a vralch upon them ; se- 



veral of his pointing out have desertedr 
and others have been taken up the very i I 
same evening or next day, when our peo- ■' 
pie had time to examine. In one instance 
I have strong reaSon to believe (though 
without proof) that he knew the fellow to « 
be a deserter when he was brought for- W 
ward. r! 

The reports of irregul.ir proceedings in 
the country are numerous, ofoneinpar- 
ticvUar, I inclose the magistrate's repre- 4 
sentation. The lad was brought to Dublin J^ 
as stated by the magistrate in No. 5, and 
was surgically rejected, and dismissed be- 
fore I received the letter, consequently I 
was not enabled to make the proper in- 
quir}^ In short the complaints are fre- 
quent, and I can aver, that notwith- 
standing the multiplicity of recruiting . 
which has been going on in Ireland since 
June last (to the extent of more than 
5000 men that have been raised) and 
some of it with the strongest inducement 
to raise men by eveiy means possible, yet 
I have had fewer personal differences to 
settle between officers and their reeruits, 
than I have had with colonel French's 
levy. 

However feasible colonel French may 
have imagined it might be to raise 5000 
men, when he gave in his proposals to 
his Royal Highness, he now sees the im- 
practicability of it, therefore must attach 
a cause for its fkilure somewhere. If; 
however, there is a cause for its not suc- 
ceeding in Ireland, he should affix it to 
the avarice of his own people ; for the 
bounty to the — recruits is but II3 gui- 
neas on the average to each ; how there-? 
fore is it possible for them to get men, 
even with every knowledge of the art of 
recruiting, when every officer around 
them are given 16 guineas, and to which 
is added the inducement of promotion 
and personal influence ; notwitlistanding 
which, many of these gentlemen have 
failed. 

I trust you will excuse the unrea.son- 
able length of this letter, but tlie very 
strong and unwarrantable representation 
of colonel French against my conduct, 
renders it requisite to make this state- 
ment in vindication of it, which I beg 
Lord Cathcart will have the goodness to 
represent to the Commander in Chief. 
At the same time I can declare, th.at 
since the first moment his Royal High- 
ness was graciously pleased to appoint 
me Deputy Inspector General for Ire- 
land, every thought and ^ct has been 



183 



zealously exerted to fulfil the trust repo- 
sed in nie, and to promote tlie service, 
which I believe not only tlie late inspec- 
tor g-eneral will testify, as will I trust the 
present one, froin his knowledge of my 
proceeding's since his appointment. 

I have the honour to remain, Sir, 
Your most obedient, and 
faithful humble servant, 
l.ieut. Col. Kirkman, .Tames Taylor. 
&c. &c. &,c. IJr. Genl. D. I. G. 



(Enclosure 2. — No. 1, with Two Enclo- 
sures ) 
(Copy.) 

Sir, Army Depot, 11th Maj-, ISO-t. 

I have recei\ ed the inspector g-cncral's 
directions to transmit for your informa- 
tion and guidance, the enclosed copy of 
a letter * from Francis Moore, esq. with 
the copy of a letter of service f grant- 
ed to lieutenant colonel French, of tlie 
late 102d foot, and captain Sandon of the 
royal waggon train, authorizing them 
to raise 5,000 general service recruits, 
in any part of the United Kingdom, 
to be finally passed at the following 
depots : at Dublin, under your or- 
ders ; at Edinburgh, under the orders 
of colonel Scott, deputy inspector gen- 
oral for North Britain ; and at the 
Isle of Wight, under the inspector g"en- 
cral. Lieutenant general Hewitt de- 
sires me at the same time to request 
you will be particularly cautious in re- 
gard to deserters, and not pass any man 
whom you may have reason to suspect 
ns such. 

The lads and boys are to be invaria- 
bly sent to this depot in such numbers 
and by such means as you may judge 
most advisable, and in forwarding them 
hither you will use every precaution to 
prevent their passing for the ordinary 
general service recruits. You will for- 
ward separate weekly retin-ns of this 
corps, which will regulate the inspector 
general in his directions for the dispo- 
sal of the men which may be approved of 
by you. 

I have the honour, £;c. Sec. Sec' 

(Signed) Jxo.Jas. Barlow, 
Colonel Taylor, Lt. Col. D. I. G. 

&c. &c. &c. 
Dublin. 



(Copy.) 

Sir, War-Office, 4th May, 1804. 

I have the secretary at war's direc- 
tions to enclose herewith, for your infer- 
raation, a copy of a letter of service, au- 
thorising lieutenant colonel French, and 
captain Sandon to raise 5,000 men for his 
Majesty's service.* 

Yoti will be pleased to cause clothing 
for the efiectivc non-commissioned oili- 
cers and drummers employed in carry- 
ing on this levy, to be supplied from the 
litoi'es of tlie army of reserve. 

I have the honour to be, 5:c. Sec. Sec. 

(Signed) F. Mooke. 

Lieut. General Hewitt, 
&c. he. &.C. 



(Copy.) 

War-Office, April 30th, 1804. 
Gentlemen, 

I have the honour to acquaint you, his 
Majesty has been pleased to approve of 
your raising five thousand men, to be 
turned over to the regiments of the line 
in his jXIajesty's service, upon the follow- 
ing conditions : 

The recruits are to be engaged with- 
out limitation as to the time and place of 
service . 

You will allow thirteen guineas lew- 
money for each recruit finally approved 
at one of the following depots, (viz.) 
The Isle of AVight, Dublin, and Edin- 
burgh, out of which levy-money, a sum 
equal to what may be ii.xed by the tg- 
cruiting instructions in force at the 
time, is to be appropriated to furnish 
the recruits with necessaries on their 
final approval, exclusive of the actual 
sum wliich may have been received by 
the recruit. 

The subsistence of tlie recruits, the 
extra allowance to inn-keepers, the al- 
lowance for beer, .and any other daily 
charge, will only be allowed to coni- 
nience from the date of approval of each 
recruit, but with a view to cover any 
extra expense that you may incur by 
the men being enlisted a considerable 
time before their approval, you will be 
allowed to enlist ten boys in every hun- 
dred recruits, for whom you will receive 
the same bounty and allowance as for 
men. 

The men and boys respectively are to 



May 4, 1804. 
April 30, 1804 



April 30. 



;^4 



be of 0*t a^ ami size diircsed bj the 
gemtnl lecnutiag lastrucuons of 1^ 

No ckar^ for slop ckitlunir tor the 
■OB-connissioned officers or recruits 
wiD be admitted ; as on approval, tbe 
latter vill be clotbed at the dero>;s, bj 
the regiraents to vUch they sh:iU be at 
mmcc attached. 

No Iiiteniiediate ^ ywwa l ot* recruits is 
to tale place, and consequendv, neither 
bovBty, subsistence, dot any other chai^ 
^~ill be alloved for such as shall be re- 
jected at the sereral d^wts. 

Eicli necniii oB a{^aoTaI at the depot 
L- : • 5:— a certificate, that he recaved 
tl>e ftili bounty promised bin. 

Tou viU be aJIoTed to appoint 90 ser- 
jes.nt>. Oil ct»ponls, and 60 drummers, 
'? ~ - - ? ". he previously approved by an 
H-c;.. g^ fi^d officer of a recnud^ 
disuict- 

The dramiaers are to he of the age 
aad standafrd of boys as specilied in the 
recraitii^ instractieas. 

The subsistence of the abore men- 
tioaed naiMomiiussiaacd officers aad 
drumners, is to conffiieace fioen the 
dales of their actual appointmcnl as 
such. 

Half of thera, if fisaDy approred at 
tbe depots, are to be reckoned as part 
<~>f the coapleatent of the five hundred 
r-ecTuits for your levy, and the remaLader 
as part of tibe first thousand. 

The c(»porals and drummers are to 
he sivea to understand, thai they are 
liable to be drafted as privates inio the 
okl regiments. 

The Thole of the noD-coaimissioacd 
officers and drummo^ must, in the first 
THStanre, be inlisted aad s.tie5ted as 
privaftes, and their attestauons trans- 
XQitted to this office inunedlatehr oa ap- 
provaL 

<kte half of the seijeaats maybe inlist- 
ed with theconititioB of dieir beii^ £s- 
dnrged at the coadosioD 4^ the levy ; 
«iuch circumstance is to he noticed in 
llieir respective attestaidoBS. 

The bousty of thirteeai guineas mill be 
allowed for st;r^ pf tbe non-camaussmc- 
cd oScexs -rners, as shall he 

finalhr appr : depots as part of 

your levy. 

Clothing tnJk be provided Ader the 
orda^ of Goi^ermaenl for the cSective 
aoa-commisaoned officers aijd dmic- 



Tou will be aiiowed dnriag the levy, 
the assistance of ten officers, rLose 
names are to be stated to his Roral 
Highness the Commander in Chief for 
his approbatioB, and such of these offi- 
cers as may be on half-pay, are la 
receive full pay during their service 
with your levy, subsei^ieatly to such 
approval- 

As the men are passed at the depots, 
it is not thought necessary to make an 
allowance for an adjutant, paymaster, 
surgeon, or quarta--inaster, but an offi- 
cer, above the ten, will be allowed to re- 
ade at eaeh depot during the levy. 

In lieu of giving you permission to 
nominate any officers for commissioos, 
an allowance at the rate of two guineas 
per man, over and above the before-aaea- 
tionedsaB irf" thirteen guineas, wiQ he 
nude to you whenerer 500 ^en shall be 
passed «t the dqMt, and for every 50i 
men suhseqaentfy passed, the like extra 
allowance of two guineas per man will 
be made to jroo. 

The stipi^ated aUowanoe of thiitees 
gmneas each, far the approved reciwtSa 
will be tasued immediately en their ap- 
proval, by the paymasters residag at the 
reflective depots, by drafts ^mm tbe, 
agents c^ the ocxps to which the mea aad 
boys nay be attached ; aad the recraks 
win be afto-warda subsisted through the 
same channel, or by the district paymas- 
ters, aatil they jota regiments. 

The pay of the commisaooed i^oas, 
aon-ooakmissioBed officers, and dnua- 
■lefs, employed in the levy, is to be re- 
ceived from the payaiaat^rs of the re* 
cruiting districts in which they shall be 
respect i vely stationed, who will draw far 
the same upcm the general aigeats for re-, 
cr uiu ug ia London and Dublin respec- 
tirely, rendering distinct pay-lists of their 
espendiaires f>a this bead to this office. 

14 howero', any of the commisstooed 
oSfDcrs should lie on foil pay m the ex- 
ists^ regiments, the district payaiastKs 
will ^aw fiff the pay of sock officers on 
their respec ti ve r^imeatal agents, ta 
till ■1111 I for thai of other ofikers 
emphr^ on the recmitin^ service. In 
cottsm n cnce of 4bs arraagemeata it is 
pvesiMed that yonr advaaoes on ^**m m » i 
of the levy wiU be so iacoaadaahle. a& 
scarcdy to require any imprest of money 
into your hands, m the first instance; 
but lif VIM should fiad some asastamce 
ahsolutelv aecessu^. there viU be no 



18; 



objection to your rpcclvin£if a moderate 
sum on account, g'iving- security for the 
immediate repayment thereof when de- 
sired. 

It is to be clearly understood, that 
povernment resai-ves to itself the disci-c- 
tion of tUscontinuing- the levy enlirelv, 
in case 4000 men are not raised aiid 
passed within nine months from the date 
of this letter, or in case the whole 5000 
men are not Tals^ and passed within 
thirteen months from the same date. 

In execution of this service, I am to 
assure you of every assistance that this 
office can aflbrd. 

I have, &:r. 
CSi.cned) C. Bragce. 
Colonel French, of tlie late 

102d foot. Captain Saii- 

don of the Koyal ^Vag•g-on 

'i'rain. 



(Copy.) 



Sir, 



Inspector -General's Office, 
loth Mav, 1804. 



(ropy.) 

f.iiclosure, 3.— Xo. 2, with Three En- 
closures.) 
Army Depot, 19th May, 1804. 
Sir, 
In addition to my letter of the 11th in- 
-<;tant, I am directed by the inspector gen- 
eral to forward, for your information and 
guidance, a copy of' a letter* which has 
been written to colonel French, relative 
to the carrying on the recruit inc^ duty of 
his levy, and to desire you will "be pleas- 
''d to act in conformity' to the direction 
therein given. I also e'nclose you a state- 
mentf given in by colonel French to his 
Royal Highness the Commander in Chief, 
together with a copy of a letterf from the 
inspector general to colonel Clinton, giv- 
ing his opinion on the subject, which vou 
will pay every attention to on your" in- 
spection of the recruits enlisted for this 
levy. 

(Signed) Jno. Jas. Barlow, 
^ , , Lt. Col. D. I. G. 

Colonel Taylor, 

Deputy Inspector eenexal, 
&c. S;c. &c. 



♦ May 13, 1804. 

I Colonel French to II, K. II. 

± May 9, 1804 



I have the honour to submit your let- 
ter of the iCth instant to the inspectoi- 
gencral, and have received his directions 
to say in answer, that for each of the 
recruits approved at the Edinburgh and 
Isle of Wiglit depots, there v>-in be no 
objection for the paj-masters there t<» 
give your agent in Lo'ndon drafts for the 
amount of tlieir levy on the general 
agent, Mr. Ridge ; but in regard to Ire- 
land, the same mode of payment cannot 
be adopted, as it involves" the subject 
of exchange, by the same means how- 
ever mav any agent of yours in that part 
of the Unital Kingdombe paid by drafts 
on the general agent in Dublin 4 witli 
respect to the drummers, the inspector 
general cannot s.anction your proposed 
deviation from the recruiting instnic- 
tions, although you may look to bovs 
for tiiat employment, the service w'ilT 
want them eventually for soldiers, an^l 
w ith that view must their approval take 
place. It will be necessary for you to 
transmit to the inspector-general, on 
jour commencing the recruiting icnic., 
a list of such persons as you think pit^- 
per to employ as commanding officers of 
your several parties, as well as the non- 
commissioned ofilcers to each, and name 
of tlie place to which you propose send- 
ing them, that proper notice may b- 
given to the inspecting field officer 01 
each district ; and .althougli with ro.spec 
to subsistence, periods for marcliin..;- 
recruits to the depots, an intermedials 
approval, your letter of service is a.'i 
exception to the general recruiting re 
gulations, yet in all other respects your 
p.artles are to conform strictly thereto 
and whenever you may judge it expe 
dient to change tlie situation of you* 
parties, the inspecting field officc'r or 
the district from whence they remove, 
as well as that to which tlie'y may be' 
long, is to be made acquainted there- 
with previous to such removal ; I there- 
fore enclose for your informatirn, a hi,t 
of the deputy inspector-generals, and 
several inspecting field officers, the lim- 
its of their districts, and the head quar- 
ters at which they respectively reside. I 
need not point out to you the nccessitv of 
the most scrupulous attention to the se- 
veral rules laid dowu in his Koval Ilisiv 



idki 



r.css tlie CoMimandcr in Chirr's regula- 
tions, and how necessary it will be for 
you to ii>si3t on the most punctual atten- 
tion on the part of the several officers 
acting under your orders, to the fair and 
full adjustment of all accounts between 
their parties and recruits ; that his IVla- 
jestv's orders, particularly respecting- 
tlie money to be advanced at the time of 
eiilisLmcnt, be most scrupulously attend- 
ed to ; the recruit may be made fully 
acquainted v/ith the nature of his en- 
gagement, that the attestation may ho 
siiyned not only by the mag-istrate and 
the recruit, but by the oflicer who may 
command the party, and all in tlic pre- 
sence of each other ; that tlic attestation 
may be regularly transmitted with tlic 
recruit to the depot he goes to for in- 
spection, and that it be free from era- 
sures of every kind, and the sum paid, 
with the day of the month and year, be 
t-'xprcssed in words and not in figures ; 
any neglect on these points will be con- 
sidered as invalidating tlie engagement, 
iind the man will he discharged without 
admitting any expense to the public. I 
have only to add, that although the in- 
specting field officers have nothing to do 
with the approval of yoiu' recruits, itis^ 
point of the greatest importance, and 
which must be rigidly adopted, that no 
recruit enlisted at the head quarters of a 
recruiting district, shall march away 
■without liavlng been seen by the inspect- 
irrg field officer there stationed, and most 
particularly in the metropolis, where 
frauds are more easily practised than any 
where else. Lieutenant-colonel Robin- 
son will inform you of the most conven- 
ient time for presenting your recruits to 
him accordingly. 

I have the honour to be, Lc. Sec. Sec. 
(Signed) r. C.VREY, 

Colonel French, A. I. 

late 102d Foot. 



fCopy.) 

Colonel French presumes to state to 
Iiis Royal Highness the Commander m 
Chief, that lie has received from tlic 
War-Office, his letter of service in favour 
of captain Sa.idon and himself, but under 
such circumstances of discouragement, 
and so very different from those accept- 
ed by him which he had the honour to 
receive by order of his Royal Highness, 
from colonel Clinton, that he feels him- 
self urged to make this appeal to hh 



Royal Highness. " From the weight of 
the undertaking, and the exertions re- 
quired in obtaining recruits vmdcr the 
present circumstances, colonel French 
rests satisfied his Royal Highness's good- 
ness will afford him every aid consistent 
with justice to the public; his only re- 
quest indeed now in, that the letter of 
service may remain as was understood 
by colonel Clinton's proposals ; one 
principal result arisiiig from the newly 
introduced arrangeincnts into the letter 
of service, will be that of placing colonel 
French in a capacity apparently more 
civil than military, by which that spe- 
cies of inflviencc and consequence is ta- 
ken from him which is ever necessary to 
command obedience and stimulate exer- 
tion ; besides colonel French trusts his 
Royal Highness will pardon him in ex- 
pressing, that he cannot bvit feel hurt at 
being placed in a situation of such little 
confidence, as the letter of service in its 
present state assigns hun. I5y this new 
arrangement, in the fir.st place, the non- 
commissioned officers and drummers are 
in a manner taken out of his hands, and 
subsisted liy the paymasters of the re- 
cruiting districts, in which they shall 
i-espectively be stationed ; his Royal 
Highness must be well aware that the 
non-commissioned officers and drummers 
arc to be looked for in various places and 
in distant parts, that they must frequently 
(according to circumstances) be march- 
ing in different directions,and often chang- 
ed, particularly the corporals to go as pri- 
vates. In short, the various inconvenien- 
ces of this plan, colonel French feels fully 
sensible, cannot but tend most seriously 
to cripple and embarrass the operations 
of the levy. la the second place, the 
allowance of thirteen guineas for each 
approved recruit is to be paid, on the 
approval, by the paymaster residing in 
the district. Colonel French always 
conceived himself (and he hopes he will 
in this meet the ideas of his Royal High- 
ness) invested witli discretionary powers, 
in order to attain tlie end in view ; for 
instance, to those who recruit in the 
neighbourhood of the depots, the risk 
being' less, the levy will be so in propor- 
tion to those at a distance, more than 
the levy will be allowed. In short, the 
plan of colonel French is, that tliis fund 
should be distributed according to the 
calculated risks, distances, and other 
various operating causes of the different 
recruiting parties. By this mcan^ all 



187 



win have an eqtial interest in carrying 
the levy into effect, and the same spirit 
will be exerted at the greatest distance 
as near the depots. Colonel French, 
conceiving himself indebted to his Royal 
.Highness for the preference given him 
on this occasion, cannot but be highly 
interested in carrying the undertaking 
through in a manner to give satisfaction 
to his Royal Highness ; the accommoda- 
tion and convenience of an agent to 
ofliccs engaged in so extensive a plan, 
must be obvious. If what colonel French 
here has the honour to submit to his 
Royal Highness appears equally ceconomi- 
cal to the public purse, though more 
simple, and equally safe in every point of 
view, he trusts (as it will be so much for 
the benefit of the levy) his Royal High- 
oess will favourably consider it ; the ex- 
pense to Government is the same, the 
mode is only submitted to be changed. 

By the terms held out by colonel Clin- 
ton, and accepted, it was understood that 
an issue would be granted by government 
to the agent of the corps, and that the 
bounty to the recruits and subsistence to 
the non-commissioned officers and drum- 
mers, would be entrusted to the chiefs 
of the levy. It is submitted, that the 
risk, on the score of the issue of money, 
cannot be great, when the accounts are 
to be settled at the completion of each 
500 men. Besides the commissions of col- 
onel French and captain Sandon are re- 
sponsible, as also the two extra guineas, 
which are not to be credited until the final 
passing of each 500 men. 

It is therefore submitted that an issue of 
money should be granted, in the first in- 
stance, to enable the levy to proceed. 

That at the final passing of each 500 
men, a full settlement with the public is 
to take place, and the extra two guineas 
are to be reserved until such final settle- 
ment has taken place, and further security 
to be given if thought necessary. 

The attestations of the Serjeants and 
drummers, upon final approval, are to be 
transmitted to the war-office, and that 
the non-commissioned officers and drum- 
mers are to be subsisted by the chiefs of the 
levy. 

That the chiefs of the levy, as being 
responsible for the payment of the boun- 
ties promised each recruit, are to be al- 
lowed to charge the levy money, being 
thirteen guineas, in their periodical set- 
tlements, but are onlv to be allowed for 

25 



such as are certified and approved by the 
inspectors of the respective depots, which 
certificates are to be produced as vouchers 
to their charges. 

(Signed) J. French, 
Col. late lOSdFoot. 
And on the part of Captain Sandon. 



(Copy.) 

Inspector General's Office, 
9th May, 1804. 

If my construction of the letter of 
service granted to colonel French be cor- 
rect, he misconceives materially the inten- 
tions of the Secretary at War, and has 
no grounds for complaining of embar- 
rassments, or for demanding any pecuniary 
assistance. The thirteen guineas allowed 
for each of his recruits are, I conceive, to 
be paid to his accredited agents at the 
different depots, immediately upon the 
recruit's approval. The distribution of 
that sum rests solely with colonel French, 
the Inspector General having only to be 
satisfied that the recruit receives what 
he engages for, of course by this mods 
of settlement the principals in the levy 
can be very little in advance, and that 
only for the recruits first raised, as the 
difference between the thirteen guineas 
and the bounty paid will go in aid of 
further recruiting, and of all the branches 
of the establishment, and this assistance it 
is obvious must increase with the projects 
of the levy. 

If it be intended to permit the recruit- 
ing parties to move about at pleasure 
without the knowledge or concurrence of 
the inspecting field offioer or recruiting 
districts, then indeed colonel French has 
some cause to object to the mode of pay- 
ing his non-commissioned officers pointed 
out by the war office ; but as no such in- 
tention is supposed to exist, and that the 
same restrictions which it was judged ex- 
pedient fo put upon the late levy raised by 
captain Nugent, will apply equally to this, 
no inconvenience can arise from the pay- 
ment proposed, more particularly as the 
payment of recruiting parties always take 
place a month in advance ; but the detail 
of this, as well as other matters, will be 
given to colonel French whenever he re- 
ports himself to you. 

(Signed) G, H. 
Col. Clinton. 



188 



(Circular.) 

(Enclosure 4. — No. 3.) 
Army Depot, 14th June, 1804. 
Sir, 
1 am directed by the Injpector General 
to transmit herewith copies of letters from 
colonel Clinton and Francis Moore, Esq. 
respecting the intermediate approval of 
the non-commissioned officers and drum- 
mers of colonel French's levy, and to de- 
sire you will pay every attention thereto. 
I have the honour to be, 
Sir, 
Your most obedient humble servant, 
(Signed) J. J. BARtow, 

Lt. Col. D. I. G. 
Colonel Taylor, Deputy Inspector General 
of the Recruiting Service, Dublin. 



(Copy.) 

Horse Guards, 11th June, 1804. 

Sir, 
I am directed by the Commander in 
Chief, to transmit you the enclosed copy 
of a letter from the Deputy Secretary at 
War on the subject of inspecting the non- 
commissioned officers and drummers of 
colonel French's levy ; and as his Royal 
Highness concurs in opinion with the 
Secretary at War, as to the propriety of an 
early inspection of tliese men, his Royal 
Highness desires that you will be pleased 
to give the necessary directions according- 
ly, communicating at the same time to 
colonel French the Commander in Chief's 
pleasure on this head. 

I have the honour to be. Sir, 

Your most obedient humble servant, 
(Signed) W. H, Clinton. 
Lieut. General Hewitt, 

&c. &c. &c. 



(Copy.) 

War Office, 9th June, 1 804. 
Sir, 
In answer to your letter of the 3Ist 
ultimo, I am directed to submit, for the 
consideration of H. R. H. the Commander 
in Chief, that, as according to the present 
recruiting system, recruits are to be 
brought before the inspecting Field Offi- 
cers in the several districts, for approval, 
within as short a time as possible after 
their aucjtment, the Secretary at War 



thinks It highly proper that the same 
rule should be extended to the persons 
appointed non-commissioucd officers and 
drummers in colonel French's levy, and 
that they should be produced for inspec- 
tion within one month of the dates of their 
attestations, in which case, if approved, 
Mr. . undas would not object to allow 
them back-pay. 

I have, &c. &c. &c. 

(Signed) F. MooiiE. 
Colonel Clinton, &c. &c. &c. 



(Enclosure 5.— No. 4) 
Form of certificate given by men inlisted 
for colonel French's levy. 
I do acknowledge 

that I have inlisted in colonel French's 
levy, for general service, for the county 
of Pounds 

shillings and pence ; 

and that I have received the whole of 
this bounty according to my agreement, 
except the sum of two pounds five shil- 
lings and sixpence, which is to be re- 
served for the purpose of supplying me 
with necessaries on joining such battalion 
as I shall be appointed to, on my arrival 
at the army depot in the Isle of Wight, 
Dated this day of 

180 
Witness. 



[Enclosure 6.— No. 5.] 



(Copy.) 

Sir, 

I beg leave to lay before you the fol- 
lowing case, and make no doubt you will 
liave the goodness to enquire into it. A 
boy of the name of Christopher Lanheran, 
inlisted with a party under the command 
of captain Adam Robinson ; he was 
brought to me to be attested on the 11 th 
instant ; two days after being inlisted, he 
refused to attest, wishing to be set at lib- 
erty ; his friends lodged the smart money 
with me, and returned the inhsting money 
as directed by the recruiting act, and I 
sent the boy home to his friends. 

On Monday last the 24th instant, cap- 
tain Robinson sent his party and took 
the boy into custody, and has forwarded 
him to Dublin, his friends| inform me, 
without his consent or approbation ; if 



189 



on ciifjuiry you fnul the above stalcmcnl 
con-cct, you will please to order the boy 
to be set at liberty ; on the other hand, 
should it appear that the boy is willing' to 
serve his Majesty, tlicn I will return the 
smart money to his friends. 

I have the honour to be, 
&c. &c. &c. 
James Isi.es, Sovereign. 
Armagh, Sept. 27th, 1804. 



his Royal Highness the commander in 
Chief has been pleased to approve of the. 
age of men inlisted for colonel French's 
li;vy being extended to 35 years of age ; 
you will be ])leased to communicate the 
above to the I. F. O. under your order. s. 
(Signed) J. J. Barlow, 

Lt. Col. I). I. r. 
Brig. General Taylor, 
Sec. &c. 8cc. Dublin. 



(Enclosure 7.-^No. 6.) 
Memorandum : 
Copy of an order from the Inspector Ge- 
neral, being a transcript from one re- 
ceived from tile Horse Guards. 

Horse Guards, 10th Nov. 1804. 
" His Royal Highness has been pleased 
*' to approve of the standard for colonel 
"French's levy being lowered to five feet 
*' four inches for men, and five feet three 
" inches for lads, but no altcretion is to 
" take place as to the age of recruits, nor 
" any on the standard for boys inlisted by 
"him." 



Sir, 



Horse Guards, 22d Nov. 1804. 



*' By direction of the Commander In 
" Chief, I have the honour to transmit 
** hcrewitli, a representation from colonel 
" French, and to acquaint you, that 
"in consequence of what is therein sta- 
" ted, his Royal Highness has been plea- 
" sed to approve of the limitation with 
" respect to the age of men inlisted for 
" this levy, being extended to tliirty-five 
"years, which you will be pleased to 
"communicate to the inspecting field 
" officers accordingly. 

" With respect to the standard of boys 
" inlisted for this levy, his Royal High- 
" ness does not approve of any alteration 
"taking place." 

(Signed) ,T. W. Gordon. 

Major-Gen. Whltelock, 
&c. kc. &c. 



Army Depot, Isle of Wlglit, 
Sir, 26th Nov. 1804. 

I am directed by the Inspector Gene- 
ral to transmit, for your information and 
guidance, the enclosed copy of a letter 
from licut. col. Gordon, stating, that 



(Enclosure 8. — No. Y.) 
(Copy.) 

Memorandum from Lieutenant Col. Gor- 
don to Major General Whitclockc, 
dated 29th Oct. 1804. 
Colonel French by his letter of ser- 
vice, is entitled to 90 Serjeants, 90 corpo- 
rals, and 60 drummers, and should of 
course be allowed to appoint them. 

J.W. G. 

(Copy.) 

Colonel Barton, ' 29th Dec, 

Will you make the necessary commu- 
nication to B. Gen. Taylor and Colonel 
Frencli. 

A. B. 
London, 
Cecil-street Cofl'ce-housc, Strand, 
(Copv.) Dec. 18tli, 1804. 

Sir, 
Having done myself the honour (for 
the purpose of p-uying my respects to you) 
of calling at your office a few days ago, 
I was recommended by Major Brow nc to 
state upon paper for your consideration, 
•those points, in the letter of service 
granted to captain Sandon and mc, upon 
which the Deputy Inspector General in 
Ireland and I form diHorcnt constructions. 
One of the chief points in which Icon 
ceive the Deputy Inspector has misap- 
prehended the terms of the letter of ser- 
vice is that wliich relates to the distri- 
bution of the non-commissioned officers. 
On this subject I had a correspondence 
with him some months ago (for as early 
as in August last I was directed by him 
not to recruit any more Serjeants wh.il - 
ever, though the levy had then but about. 
26 in Ireland, and still fiswer in England 
and Scotland) and a reference was made 
on the occasion by each party to Lieut 
General Hewitt. I had not the honour 
of an answer from the Inspector tJencr.al : 
but, from what Brigadier General Taylor 
expressed to me afterwards, previous to 
my leaving Ireland, I conceived he y,».?. 



190 



satistied with the correctness of my con- 
struction, and I hoped at length the levy, 
on that )icad at least, though so very late, 
would receive no further impediment. 
It is therefore with surprize I have learn- 
ed that brig-adicr Taylor, since my leavin,^ 
Ireland will not allow more than 45 
Serjeants to appear upon the pay-lists 
of the levy in that country. Wlien you, 
sir, have the goodness to take the trouble 
of looking- over this letter of service, I 
feel full)' confident you will be satisfied 
B. Gen. Taylor has not maturely consi- 
dered, or at least has misconceived, the 
terms of it Not to intrude too much 
upon your time I shall take the liberty 
merely to state, that the letter of service 
allows ten recruitinsj oiiicers and ninety 
Serjeants ; the proportion therefore is, that 
of nine Serjeants to each officer. Seven 
recruiting- officers are stationed in Ireland 
of course therefore, by this calculation 
there should be 63 Serjeants in Ireland. 
Upon what date the Deputy Inspector 
General founds his conclusion I am at a 
loss to conjecture, unless it is from the 
circumstance of my having informed 
Lieut. Col. Williamson, at the commence- 
ment of the levy, that I should require 45 
Serjeants' suits of clothing, Scc.for Ireland, 
which brig. gen. Taylor was directed to 
supply me with. My original intention 
was, to have employed in Ireland only 
five officers and 45 Serjeants, but vei-y 
shortly after (for well considered reasons) 
this plan was changed, and seven officers 
were placed on that service (who were 
duly notified to the inspector general, and 
are there now) of course more non-com-' 
missioned officers became necessary, and 
I wrote to my colleague, Capt. Sandon, in 
London, and the resident officer in Scot- 
land, to send over additional clothing, 
which was done. I have no doubt on my 
mind but it will appear to you, that the 
terms of the letter of service do not 
by any means assign any stated propor- 
tion of non-commissioned officers to any 
particular part or district of the United 
Empire ; but that this point is left to tlie 
discretion of the chiefs of the levy, under 
the usual restrictions of the General 
Tlccruiting Instructions, as far as they ap- 
ply. Their number is limited : the means 
of every undertaking should be adequate 
to theend. Ninetyserjcantswerejudged 
necessary for this levy, and the propor- 
tion for Ireland ; by far the major part 
has hitherto been suspended by Brig. 
Gen. Taylor, to the almost incalculable 
Injury of the undertaking-. These cir- 



cumstances I had the honour, month* 
ago, forcibly to state to him. 

On my arrival in Ireland in June last, 
various persons offered their services to 
recruit for me ; among others were the 
offiirs of Mr. John O'Reiley, late Lieute- 
nant in the 60th Foot. As I knew this 
gentleman to have been an active re- 
cruiting officer, and to have considerable 
influence in his country, it was natural 
I shoidd wish for liis services. Other 
levies, as at present, were then recruit- 
ing in Ireland, and I informed myself 
how they acted on such occasions, and 
found they employed various jjcrsons to 
recruit, who sent forward their men 
through the medium of the officer of the 
levy recruiting in the district. Mr. 
O'Kciley, in order to qualify himself, 
consented to be attested, wliich was done 
in my presence ; which circumstance, 
by him, when called upon, was explain- 
ed to Brig. Taylor, who has likewise 
seen his attestation. Essential service 
has been derived to the levy from this 
person, he was under the charg-c of ail 
officer of the levy^ Quarter-master Short, 
in the. Athlone district. B]-igadier Gen. 
Taylor has deprived this man of his 
beating order, while other persons un- 
der similar circumstances, recruiting for 
other levies, are allowed to hold theirs. 
He drew no pay from the public , and 
was therefore not included in the pay- 
lists, in like manner as others recruiting 
for the other levies. As the other levies 
did not report persons of this description, 
I followed the same rule ; but if the De- 
puty Inspector wishes such to be reported 
to him as regularly as those included in 
the pay-lists, and upon the strength of 
the levy, it can be done. I need not 
mention to you. Sir, that one active 
recruiter is frequently of more service 
than lialfa dozen others, and Mr. O'Reiley 
is that sort of man ; under all these cir- 
cumstances, I trust it will appear to you, 
and to the Deputy Inspector General in 
Ireland, that I studied the good of the 
service in employing Mr. O'Reiley, and I 
hope he may be continued. Your having 
the goodness to communicate your sen- 
timents on the points here laid before 
you, must tend in a great measure to do 
away the heavy impediments this levy 
has had to contend with in Ireland, 
which, if continued, must prove fatal t« 
its success. I have, &c. &c. &c. 

(Signed) J. French, Colonel. 
General Whitelock, 
SiC. Sec. 5cc. 



191 



(Copy.) (Enclosure 9.-- ffo. 8.) 

Inspector-General's Office, 54, Spring- 
Sir, Gardens, May 22, 1804. 

I am directed by Lieutenant General 
Hewitt to acquaint you, that a colonel 
French has engaged with government to 
raise a certain number of men, and, as he 
purposes, to send to or raise in Ireland 
45 Serjeants, 45 corporals, and 30 drum- 
mers. 

The general desires they may be cloth- 
ed from the reserve clothing you may 
have in store, but if you have not suffi- 
cient, to direct clothing to be made up, 
viz. for each serjeant, corporal, and 
drummer, a cap and plume, jacket, waist- 
coat, breeclics, and long gaiters. The 
jackets of the Serjeants and corporals to 
have bright yellow cufi's and capes, the 
usual lace, and plain white buttons. 

For colonel French's parties in Eng- 
land, reserve clotliing has been issued 
for the drummers without any alteration. 
(Signed) Geo. Williamson, 
Colonel Taylor, Superint. of clothing 
&c. &.C. Lc. li. A. of reserve. 



(Enclosure 10. — No. 9. 

Extract of a Letter from Brigadier Gen- 
eral Taylor to the Inspector General ; 
dated Dublin, 15th November, 1804. 
" Enclosed, is a beating order issued 
by colonel French, to a person of the 
name of John O'Rielly, which I have 
been under the necessity of withdrawing, 
in consequence of the engagements with 
the recruits brought forward as corporals 
being contrary to the instructions, inas- 
much as holding out to them that when 
they are to b© drafted, they are to go as 
corporals instead of privates, whereby 
they are induced to inlist for live, six, or 
eight guineas, instead of what they would 
have to agree for as privates. But ex- 
clusive of this reason for stopping this 
man's recruiting, it does not appear that 
he is on the returns or books of colonel 
French, neither does any officer belong- 
ing to his levy in Dublin, or his clei'k, 
know that he is attested, although he 
says that he has been inlisted by colonel 
French, and that he was formerly a lieu- 
tenant in the 4th battalion of the 60th 
rcgimenl ." 



No. 18. 

(One Enclosure.) 

Copy of a Letter from Colonel Gordon to 

Mr. Kirkman. 

Horse Guards, 20th February, 1805 

Sir, 
1 have received and laid before the 
Commander in Chief your letter of the 
8th instant, transmitting, by direction of 
lieutenant-general lord Cathcart, briga- 
dier-general Taylor's report, with the 
accompanying papers relative to the 
complaint pi'eferrcd by colonel French 
against the brigadier-general ; and I am 
commanded to communicate to you, for 
the information of lieutenant general 
lord Cathcart, that the explanation* of 
the brigadiei'-general is satisfactory, in as 
far as it clearly proves that the motives 
from which he acted were a laudable 
zeal for his Majesty's service, and an 
anxious desire to discharge faithfully the 
duties of his office ; but it certainly ap- 
pears that a premature judgment had 
been formed on the probable success of 
the exertions of colonel French, and that 
the terms of that officer's letter of ser- 
vice were not allowed him. I am further 
commanded to transmit to you a copy of 
a letter which the Commander in Chict 
has instructed the inspector general to 
write to colonel French ; and should it 
hereafter appear, that with every reason- 
able facility colonel French should fail iit 
the engagement he has imdertaken, it is 
the intention of his Royal Highness to 
communicate to that officer that his levy 
shall be discontinued. 
I have, &c. 

(Signed) J. W. Gordok. 

J. Kirkman, esq. &c. &c. &c. 



(Copy.) (Enclosiu-e.) 

Inspcctor.Gencral's Office, London, 
2d February, 1805. 
[_PariIy to be returned to Mr. Dighton.'l 
Sir, 
The Commander in Chief having ob- 
served the vei-y little progress that has 
been made in the recruiting of the levy 
under your command, and having taken 
into his consideration the very great ex- 
pence incurred for the pay and subsis- 
tence of the officers and non-commis- 
sioned officers employed upon that ser- 



• 2d February, 1805, 



192 



vice, I am cominanded to acquaint you, 
that, unless a very considerable increase 
shall take place in the numbers recruited 
prior to the first of April next, liis Royal 
Highness will feel himself under the ne- 
cessity of recommending to his Majesty 
to discontinue a levy so unproductive. 

I have, &c. 
(Signed) John Whitelocke, 
Colonel French, Inspector General. 

&c. &.C. &:c. 



No. 19. 



M. Gen. Whitelocke. 

C Agreed to. J 

Army Depot, 14th April, 1805. 
Sir, 
In addition to a return of the progress 
made in the recruiting of the levy under 
tlie direction of colonel French and cap- 
tain Sandon to the 24th January last, 
1 have now the honour to transmit a 
return of its increase since that period ; 
and congidering the very great expense 



incurred fo'r the subsistence of the offi- 
cers and non-commissioned officers em- 
ployed on this service, as well as the dis- 
graceful conduct of the latter, as repre- 
sented in the enclosed letter from the in- 
specting field officer of the London dis- 
trict, I feel it my duty to submit to the 
consideration of his Royal Highness the 
Commander in Chief the propriety of dis- 
continuing a levy so burthensome in point 
of expense to the public, and so very un- 
productive in its effiict. 

I have the honour to be. Sir, 
Your most obedient humble servant, 

John Whitelocke, 
Inspector General. 

Lie\it.-Col. Gordon, 
&c. &c. Sic. 

Horse Guards. 

P. S. His Royal Highness will recol- 
lect having commanded me to communi- 
cate to colonel French, that unless a very 
considerable increase should take place 
in the numbers recruited for this levy by 
the 1st April (instant), his Royal High- 
ness would feel himself under the neces- 
sity of recommiending to his Majesty its 
discontinuance. 



(Enclosure 1.) 
Increase of Col. Fkench's Levy, since Return transmitted 24th Jan. 1805. 

Army Depot, 12th April, 1804. 





Aftei 


Approval. 






With the Parties. 








Permanent 


















included in the 
Number Inlisted. 
































<o 
























&. 
























o 
























P 












c* 












s 












c 

rt 
O 
























•J? 












<u 












c« 












U2 












>1 
























u 


o 


'6 
Q 


o 
in 

Q 


CJ 

S 

'ci 
O 


V 

w 
o 

'a? 


0) 

'S 


en 

C 
ei 
&) 

3 
en 


^^ 

o 

a. 
u 

o 

o 


e 

e 

u 

Q 




tn 

'B 

u 

« 


o 
a, 
B 

V 

H 


92 


— 


11 


— 


9 


35 


12 11 


5 


— 


9 


2 



193' 

N.B. By letter of service, dated 30th April, ISO^, tliis levy was to have raised 
5000 men within 13 monthsj and it lias only produced 219 in 12 months. 

J. Whitelocke, 

Inspector General. 



(Enclosure 2.) 

12, King's Row, April 11th, 1805. 

Sir, 
I am under a necessity of making a 
formal complaint a^'ainst the whole of 
the temporary scrjcants of col. French's 
lev ; their conduct is in every respect so 
infamous and disgraceful to the service, 
tliat I cannot too strongly urge their be- 
ing discharged, or at least sent out of 
the London district'. In addition to n. 
variety of ci-imes and irregularities, they 
are now busily employed in crimping for 
other corps, and most particularly for 
the additional force ; the impositions 
daily practised by them upon the public 
call loudly for redress, and I believe the 
severest punishment that cor.ld be at 
present inflicted on them, would be de- 
priving them of the p.-iy and emoluments 
of Serjeants. 

I have the honour to be. Sir, 

Your obedient humble servant, 
F. P. Robinson, 
I. f . O. 
The Inspector-General of the 

Recruiting Service. 



No. 20. 



Copy of a letter from the Commander in 
Chief to the Secretary at War. 

Horse Guards, 16th April, 1805. 
Sir, 
As it appears by the returns of colonel 
"French and captain Sandon's joint levy, 
tliat it is not by any means so produc- 
tive as might have been expected ; and as 
the Inspector General of tlie recruiting 
service has represented, that the con- 
duct of the whole of the temporary Ser- 
jeants of that levy, now resident irt the 
liOndon district, is highly. improper and 
detrimental to the service, I have re. 
commended to his Majesty, and his Ma- 
jesty has been graciously pleased to ap- 
prove of this levy being forthwith dis- 
continued, agreeable to a clause in the 
letter of service to that effect, and I 
have therefore to request, that the neces- 



sary Information may be given to colo- 
nel P'rench and captain Sandon accord- 
ingly. 

1 have ordered communications to be 
m.ade to the Commander of the forces 
in Ireland, and to the Inspector-General 
of the recruiting service, on the subject. 
I am, &:c. 
(Signed) Frederick. 
The Right Hon. the Secretary 
at War, &c. 5cc. &c. 



No. 21. 



C. /.. 



Ifis Jfoi/nl Highnesn cannot give ami fur- 
ther encouragement to tfie prosecution 
of a Icvij which has turned out so u/i- 
projitablc to the public service. 

Colonel French and captain Sandon 
beg leave to submit to the consideration 
of his Royal Highness the Commander 
in Chief, the following modifications and 
alterations to take place in their letter of 
service. They shall not trouble his Royal 
Highness with details of difficulties they 
have had to encounter, and of losses and 
heavy expenses sustained, nor with state- 
incnts to prove that their exertions have 
by no means been deficient. They mere- 
ly beg to observe, that there are .at pre- 
sent about 40 recruiting parties of the 
line in Ireland, who send their recruits 
to the Dublin depot. • These parties are 
of course composed of 40 officers, &c. 
and these parties they are well informed» 
do not in the aggregate send forward 
more than betweea forty and fifty recruits 
per month, whereas their levy, with oidy 
seven recruiting officers, in the months of 
February and March last, finally passed 
80 recruits. The same holds good with 
respect to Scotland, and they may ven- 
ture to say equally so in England. They 
trust his Royal Highness will have the 
goodness to excuse these few remarks. 

One important difficulty which they 
have had to encounter in England they 
trust will have its weight with his Jtoyal 
Highness. !t has not been in their 



194 



power, to this day, by any means yet es- 
sayed, to obtain one sixpence of tlie levy 
money (19 guineas per man) of 85 re- 
cruits finally passed at the Isle of Wight : 
the wciglit of so heavy and accumulating- 
a sum could not but embarrass and crip- 
j>le their exertions. 

As they conceive the chief objection, 
which has been ascribed to their levy, to 
be its extensive establishment and con- 
sequent expense, to obviate altogether 
such objection, they have the lionour to 
submit the enclosed mollifications and 
alterations, and hope his Royal Highness 
vill be pleased to allow them to continue 
tlieir exertions for such further term as 
his lloyal Highness may tliink proper ; 
and they feel confident in such case, that 
their levy will prove higldy beneficial to 
the recruiting service, at the same tini« 
that its establishment will be founded 
upon the most economical principles. 
J. I'^iENCii, Colonel. 
H- Sandon, Captain. 
TiOnilon, 
Cecil-Street Coftce-house, Strand, 
April 20, 1805. 



Modifications and Ai.tf.r.vtioxs 

proposed for Colonel . French's and 

Captain Sandon's Lf.vv. 

Colonel French and captain Sandon, 
having fovmd, by experience, that a great 
part of the officers attached to their levy, 
instead of exerting themselves in recruit- 
ing, appear rather to liave conceived their 
cuds attained by obtaining- full pay, tliey 
propose that other persons may be em- 
ployed under a dilFerent impression, witli 
temporary rank in tj)e army, in the same 
manner as was allowed in captain Nu- 
gent's late levy. These persons will 
draw no pay from government. 

It is therefoi-e suBmitted that five of- 
ficers (whose Tiames are below mention- 
ed) be struck oft" from the levy, and re- 
vert to their half-pay. 

That the ninety Serjeants, allowed by 
the letter of service, be reduced to fortv- 
ftve. 

That the corporals, instead of ninety, 
are to consist of forty -five. 

That tlie drummers, instead of sixty, 
are to consist of thirty. 

The Serjeants, &c. to be discontinued, 
will be selected by colonel French and 
captain Sandon, and their names deliv- 
ered in at the respective depots by the 
resident officers, in order that such as 
are permanent may be drafted, agree- 



ably to the letter of service, and the 
limited ones discharged. 

As the line are instructed to take boy.i 
at five feet, it is submitted to his Royal 
Highness, that the boys allowed by the 
letter of service may be taken at . the 
same standard. 

J. French, Colonel. 
H. Sandon, Captain. 
London, 
Cecil'Strcct Coffee-house, Strand. 

April 20, 1805. 
Ofllcers proposed to be struck off the 
levy : — 
Captain CoUott. 
liieutouant IJowers. 
Knsign Wood. 
Adjutant Dickson. 
Quarter-Master Short . 



No. 22. 
Copy of a Letter from Colonel Gordon 
to Colonel French and Captain San- 
don. 

Horse Guards, 28th April, 1805. 
Gentlemen, 
Having laid before the Commander in 
Chief your memorandum of tlie 20tli in- 
stant, proposing certain alterations in 
your letter of service, I am commanded 
to inform you that his Royal Highness 
cannot give any further encouragement 
to the jirosocution of a levy whicli has 
turned out sounpi'oductive to tlie service, 
.nnd for discontinuing of which, orders 
have already been g-iven. 
I am, &.C. 
(Signed) J. W. Gordon. 

Col. French :uulCapt. S.andon. 



No. 23. 
Army Depot, 6th Feb. 1809. 
Dear Colonel, 
I was noc enabled to make you an 
accurate return of Col. French's levy, 
without detailing them in the first in- 
stance by name, and now iuclose it, which 
includes every man who has arrived at 
the Army Depot ; but thinking it likely 
that a return of numbers may answer 
your purpose, I also inclose it, in which 
i have mentioned how the whole have 
been disposed of. 

I have the honour to be. 
Dear Colonel, 

Your's most faithfully, 
James Taylok, B. G. 
Liciit.-Coloncl Gordon, Com. 

&c. &c. &c. 

Horse Guards. 



I 



189 // 7 r) 

(Enclosure 1.) 
RETURN of IVfcn sent tb the Army Depot by Colonel French, and liow 

disposed of. 

6th February, 1809, 



^7> 



7 



No. 



How disposed of. 



7.5 

14 

2 

4 

64 

ly 

5 
13 

196 



Attached to Regiments of the Line. 

West India Corps. ' 

Royal Uarrack Artificers. 

Garrison and Veteran Battalions. 

East India Company. 

Rejected. 
Deserted. 
Returned to London, Recruiting^, and never brought back. 



Total. 



James Taylor, B, G. Com, 



(Enclosure 2.) 

RETURN of Men sent to the Army Depot by Colonel French, in the 

years 1804 and 1805, and how tliey were distributed. 

Army Depot, 6th February, 1809. 







Date 


From 




No. 


NAMES. 












of 


whence 


How disposed of. 






Arrival. 


joined. 






^ 


1804 






1 


Corporal James Wilson 


14th July 


London 


17th Foot. 




Private Richard Masters 


.. 


.. 


i/th. 




Tliomas Franhish 


.. 


-- 


E. 1. Co. 




Drummer Thomas Willans 


-- 




Ditto 


5 


Private John Bourne 


., 




Discharged 




George Gardner 


— 




17th Foot 




George Shirk 


- 




1 7th 




Serjeant William Betty 


19ih 


-- 


("Returned to Lon- 
(^d.m to recruit. 




Private Benjamin Nolden ' 


25th 


■ - 


8ih Foot 




John Asman 


-. 


" 


3d Battalion 60th 




George King 


5th Aug. 


■- 


17th Foot 


10 


Matthew Rea 


., 


1 


Rejected 




Richard Ayliffe 


I8th 


.- 


Deserted 




James Holland 
Richard Colman 


.. 


— 


17tli Foot 




.. 


— 


D. serted 




William Moody 


„ 


-- 


Discharged 



25 



190 



RETURN of Men sent to the Army Depot by Colonel French— contj««frf. 



• • • 


( 


Date 


From 




No. 


NAMES. 


of ! 


whence • 


How disposed of. 






Arrival. 


joined. 








1804 






15 


I'cuiporury Serp. John Coghhm 


6tli Sep:. 


London 


S Returned to Lon. 








— 


) don to recruit. 








— 


c. 




Corporal Georjjc Grant - - 




— 


Discharged. 




do. George Webb - - 




— 


C Returned to Lon- 
i don to recruit. 


20 


T. Sergeant Henry Pegg - - 


21st 


— 


Deserted 




Corporal William Jones - - 




— 


C Returned to Lon- 
idon to recruit- 




Private James Brown - - - 




— 


E. 1. C. 




do. Jos. Gabb .---,- 




— 


13th Foot. 




do. Thomas Kirkwood - 


27th 


— 


13th. 


^5 


do. Thomas Cormack - - 




— 


54th. 




do. James Young - - - - 


29th: 


— 


Disch.arged. 




do. Jos. Banbury . - - - 




— 


E. 1 C. 




do. John Cook 


5th Oct. 


— 


54ili Foot. 




do. Samuel Robinson - - 


14lh 


— 


Deserted. 


30 


do. Charles Miller - - - 
do. Henry Briggs - - - • 




— 


Do. 
E. I. C. 




do. John Wright ... - 




— 


Do. 


53 


do. Thomas Bean . - . - 




— 


Do. 


34 


Drummer John Wade - - - 


27th Oct. 


— 


Discharged. 


35 


Private Robert Conway - - . 




— 


Do. 




Temporary Serj. Peter Dunn 




— 


C Returned to Lon 
i don to recruit. 




Private William Thornhill - 


2 4th Nov. 


— 


E. I. C. • 




do. Jos. Johnson . . - - 




— 


E. I. C. 




do. John Gunnis . . - - 






19th Foot. 


40 


do. James Ellis 


15thDcc. 


— 


CRetunicd to Lon 
(^ don to recruit. 




do. John Selby - - - . . 




— 


Do. 




do. Jos. Bier 




— 


Do. 




do. John Fislier - - - . 




— 


Do. 




do. Timothy Dacey ... 




— 


o6th Foot. 


45 


do. Thomas Bird .- . . 
do. Antiiony Bird - - - . 


21stDcc. 
1805. 


~ 


56th. 
56th. 




do. Michael Ncal - - - 


6th Jan. 


>■— 


56th. 




do. Matthew Hewitt - - 




— 


56th. 




do. Thomas Bailey ... 


23d. 


_ 


22d. 



191 



RETURN of Men Sent to the Army Depot by Colonel Sfi^NCH— continued. 



No. 



50 



55 



NAMES. 



Priv. William Griffiths 

- - Jos. Shore 

- - Isaac Worrad 

- - Jos. Grip^gs 

- - John Carty 

- - Francis Williams 
- John Keirnan 

- - William Brooks 

- - John Dean 

- - John Flannigan 



fiO |P Serj. Isaac Frampton 

I'riv. Charles Kg&r 
■ - John Prest 

- - Thomas Hayes 

- - Richard Walker 



65 



70 



75 



SO 



35 



Thomas Ireland 
George Stratton 
Matthew CuUen 
John Merrett 
George Heathcott 

Samuel Terry 
James Mitchell 
W. Nethercott 
William Lynch 

Robert Conway 

John Wade 
James Wynn 
James Flood 
Charles Brady 
Thomas M' Lauchlin 

George Bernie 
Joseph Trickclton 
John T..ayman 
Patrick Walker 
William Johnston 

James Kirnaghan 
Thomas Purcell 
ttharles Somerville 



Date 

of 

Arrival. 



1804. 
22d Jan. 

4th Feb. 
6th 



7th 
15th 



1st March 

4th 
1st April 

2nd May 

6th 
11th Oct. 



From 
whence 
joined. 



London. 



Dublin 



24th Nov. 



How disposed of. 



22d. 

56th. 

E. I. C. 

Discharged. 

Do. 

56tlu 
49lh. 
56Lh 
E. I. C, 
56th. 

C Returned toLon- 
(^don I'ecrniting 

Black artificers. 

56th. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Rejected. 
E. I. C. 
23d. 
Rejected. 

E. T. C. 

Kejccted. 

E. I. C- 

Hijecled. 

C Returned toLoB 

i_don to recrnit„ 

Rejected. 
80th Foot- 
do. 
do. 
E. I. C, 

80th. 

75th. 

do. 

B. Artif 

E. I. C. 

56th. 
do. 
E. I. C. 



Q^ 



RETURN of Meirsent to the Army Depot by Colonel FRzycn—tontinuetf. 







Date 


From 






No. 


NAMES. 


of 
Arrival. 


whence 
joined. 


How disposed 


of. 






1805 






88 


Private John Lee son .... 
Piitrick Daiion - - 


24tUNo . 
do. 


Dublin 
do. 


E. I. C. 

56th. 




90 


William Miller - - 
GlKirks M'Cormick 
Kicliard V. Maionej 
Jumes Hryon . - - 
James M' Cube - - 


,)th Jan. 

do. 

do. 
29th 

do 


do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 


60th, 3d B. 
56th. 
17tl». 
56th. 
56th. 
> 




S5 
4 


William Heyslop - . 
Robert Callaghan - 
Barny Reynolds - - 
Thomas Burg-iss - - 
Charles Keogh - - 


do. 
I'^tliMai 

<lo. 

do. 
27th Ap 


do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 


56th. 
E.I. C. 
E. I. C. 
E.l. C. 
E. I. C. 




100 


James 0' Neil - . - 
Jolni Meghar - - - 
Nicholas Kelly - - - 
Patrick Hartigan - - 
Sergeant John Dale - - - 


do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
0th Jun 


do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 


E.I. C. 
E. 1. C. 
E. I.e. 
E. I. C. 
3d W. L R. 




105 


Patric O' Connor 
James Murphy - - 
John Samphy ... 
James Palton - - - 
James Humphrys 


do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 


do. 
d*. 
do. 
do. 
do. 


6th. 

6th. 

3d. 

3d. 

6th. 




110 


James Leonard - - - 
John Huhiphrys - . - 
William Hamilton - - 
Francis Smith . • - 
. Dennis Daley - - - 


do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 


do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 


1st. 

6th. 

4th. W.I. R. Ueg 

49th Foot. 

4th W I. 




115 


James Roach - - - 
Peter Callaghan - - 
Curtis Hynes - - - 
Patrick Fairn . . - 
Private William Wright . - 


do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 


do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 


6th. 

3d. 

8th. ^ 

49th Foot. 

E. I. C. 





las 



RETURN of Men sent to the Army Deposit by Colonel French— conftnKci^. 



No. 



120 



125 



130 



135 



140 



145 



150 



NAMES. 



Priv. Edw. Cane 
J:is. Pig}?ot 
Corn. Conner 
Wra. Cluff 
Jus. Bell 

Edw. Maley 
Tho. Sparrow 
Jno. Re'-dy 
Mich, Ryan 
Rob. Ryan 

Hugh Moony 
Ter. M'Ciiskcr 
Cha. Slater 
J as. Thompson 
T. P. King 

Tim. Conroy 
John Neil 
John Flaherty 
Wm. Kain 
M'Instray King 

Edm. Murphy 
Tho. Kimmins 
Andrew Piggott 
Owen Johnson 
Rob. Paterson 

Hugh Donnelly 
Pat. M'Caghy 
Geo. Douglas 
Alex Cathcart 
Edm. Donaghoe 

Tho. Kelly 
Geo. Fee 
John SuUivaa 



Date of 
Arrival. 



1805. 
■JOili Juni. 



From 
whence 
joined. 



Dublin 



How disposed of. 



I-:. I. c, 

Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 

Do. 
Do. 

)4th. 

Do. 

E I.e. 

3dG.B. 
E. I.e. 

Do. 

Do. 
IstGB. 

E.I. e. 

Do. 
68th. 
E.I. e. 

Do. 

Do. 
I3o. 

no. 

Do. 
Do. 

Do. 
inhFt. 
l-2ih. 

E 1. e. 

Do. 

J(l Bn. 34th, 
E. I. C. 
Do. 



194 



RETURN of Men sent to the Army Depot by Colonel Y^zvcH—eontintied, 



• • • • 




Date of 


From whence 






No. 


NAMES. 


Arrival. 


joined. 


How disposed of. 








1805 








153 


Priv. Pat. Gorman 


20th Jun, 


Dublin 


E. I.e. 






Luke Heyland 


— 


— 


Ditto. 




155 




__ 


__ 


13th Foot. 






Wm. Kelly 


31st Aug 


— 


ri6th. 






Mich. Ryan 


28th Dec. 


— 


84th. 






Tho. Wade 


1804. 




rejected. 




160 


John Frazev 


25th Dec. 


Edinburgh 


i6th. 






Pat. Dennis 


__ 


— 


36th. 






John Wood 


— 


— 


.i6th. 






Dennis Cairnes 


— 


— 


.,6th. 






Walter Hume 


— 


— 


irtth. 






Dan. Stephenson 


1605. 




iejected. 




165 


Alex. Bah*d 


24th Febr. 


— 


56th. 






Geo. Keith 


— 


— 


56th. 






Tho. Gill 


— 


— 


K I. C. 






Jas. Leishman 


— 


— 


5 6th. 






Jno. Napier 


— 


— 


51st. 


• 


170 


Jno. Wardrobe 





— 


56th. 






Hugh M'llwraitb 


— 


— 


56th. 






John Pyott\ 


— 


— 


6thV. Batt. 






Alex. Henderson 


— 


— 


56th. 






John Fenwick 


— 


— 


56th. 




175 


John Emers 


... 


— 


56th. 






Tho. King 


16th April 


— 


E. I. C. 






Wm. Bryce 


— 


— 


E. I. C. 






Geo. Renny 


— 


— 


E. I- C. 






Tho. Cooper 


— 


— 


E. I.e. 




180 


David Watt 


23d— 


_ 


E. I. C- 






Adam Kerr 


2nd June 


— 


94th. 





i95 



RETURN of Men sent to the Army Depot by Colonel Frz-sch-— continued. 



No. 



NAMES. 



Date of 
Arrival. 



From whence 
joined. 



How disposed of. 



182 



185 



190 



195 
196 



Priv. Dav. Pilmer 

Tho. M'Colgan 
Wm. Lumsden 



Benj. Smith 
Peter Q>iigleey 
Tho. Darley 
Hugh M'Nichol 
Jas. Gibson 



Wm. Kinghorn 
Melv. M'Kay 
W. Dean 
Fred. M'Kenzie 
J. Cunningham 

Wm. Smith 
Wm. Henderson 



1805 
2nd June 



15th— 

12th July 
4th Sept. 



Edinburgh. 



94th. 
94th. 
Rejected. 



94th. 
94th. 
E. I. C. 
E I. C. 
E. I. C. 



E I C 

6th R. V. Batt. 

Rejected. 
Do.beingcondition- 
E. I. C. [al serj. 

2nd Batt. 34th. 
8lh W.I.Reg. 



Monday, \3th February, 1809. 



Mr. Wharton in the Cliair. 

Mr. ROWLAND MALTBY was 

called in. 

Examined by the Committee. 

Where do you live ? At Fishmon- 
gers-hall. 

What is your pi'ofession ? A solicitor. 

Are you acquainted with Mrs. Clarke ? 
I am. 

How long have you been acquainted 
with her ? 1 think about July or August 
1806. If you will give me leave, I will 
stale the way in which I became ac- 
quainted with her ; it was through the 
medium of Mr. Russel Manners, who 
was a member of the lust parliament ; he 
married a sister of my wife's ; he told 
me that he had been introduced to Mrs. 
Clarke, who had professed an interest 
in him, and tliat she would endeavour 
to get a place for him through the 
means of the Duke of York, and he 
wished to introduce me to her. Under 
those circumstances I did not know how 
to refuse him, and I accordingly met her 
at his house. I belie\e I saw Mrs. 
Clarke perhaps ti\e or si,\ times in the 
course of that year ; aiterwards 1 did 
not see her again till a court-martial for 
the trial of captain Thompson. 

In the year 1806, when you saw Mrs. 
Claike, what business did you transact 
with her; what passed between you and 
her, on the occasion of yovu* being in- 
troduced ' No business ; only a com- 
mon acquaintance. 

Did you hear any more on the subject 
of the place she was to procure for Mr. 
Manners ? 1 understood that she shew- 
ed Mr. Manners a letter, stating that 
the Duke was mclined, or would com- 
ply with her request. I speak merely 
from memory, as it did not interest me. 

Did jou see tluit letter ? I am not 
quite certain about it, whether I did or 
not ; but I remember ti>e contents. 

Do you remember from whom that 
letter purported to be received ? It pur- 
ported, as Mr. Manners told me, (for I 
am not certain wliether I sawthat letter) 
to come from the Duke of York. 



At what time of the year 1806 did you 
hear of or see that letter ? I think it was 
very soon jd^ter I saw her, July or Au- 
gust, to the best of my recollection. 

Did you hear from Mrs. Clarke, at 
what time her connexion with theDuke 
of Yoi k broke ofi I No, I do not think 
she ever mentioned any thing on the 
subject to me. I was led to believe it 
continued, from what she said to me in 
conversation. 

In July and August she still repre- 
sented to you that her influence over the 
Duke of York continued ? I understood 
from her that the connexion was not en- 
tirely broken off, that she occasionally 
saw the Duke. 

Did you in the cotn-se of the yearl806, 
hear from her any thing respecting the 
obtaining of any places for any body ? — 
Not to my recollection. 

I understand you to have said, that 
from the year 1806 to the year 1808, you 
did not see any thing more of her ? To 
the best of my recollection, not till the 
court-martial in April. 

Have you, since that time, had any 
communication with Mrs. Clarke upon 
the subject of obtaining places for any 
one ? Yes. 

When ? I will explain : Asa reason 
for my keeping up a connexion with 
Mrs. Clarke, Mr. Manners had a regi- 
mental account to settle as the son of 
general Manners, which was likely to 
be procured through the medium of the 
Duke of York ; it was necessary to have 
a board of general officers in order to 
settle that account : Mr. Manners was 
indebted to me for sums of money I had 
occasionally advanced him to accommo- 
date him, and I had an assignment of 
this debt, which .amounted to about 
lOOOl. or 12001. of Mr. Manners, for the 
purpose of repaying me ; therefore I felt 
a little interested in getting the accounts 
settled, if I coidd. With respect to the 
question asked me, I had a commvmica- 
tion with Mrs. Clarke respecting a Mr. 
Ludowick. 

When ? I think it was in September 



X97 



iast ; the latter end of" \ug'ust or Sep- 
tember, to the best of my recollection. 

What was the natiire of the communi- 
cation respecting' Mr. Ludowick,andthe 
circumstances of it ? The circumstances 
were, tliat Mr.Ludowick wished to have 
so:ne place or appointment ; and Mrs. 
Clarke .-vsked me, I believe, whether I 
kne w of any such place ; I said, that I 
would make some inquiry ; and I learnt 
that it was possible that the place of as- 
sistant commissary might be obtained : 
the consequence was, that money was 
deposited for that place, and I was led 
to believe that it might be effected : 
however it failed, and never took effect. 

What is become of the money that was 
deposited ; and in whose hands was it 
deposited ?— The money was deposited 
in the hands of Birch and Co. in Bond- 
street ; the money is there now. 

In whose name was it deposited ?— 
Part of it was deposited in the name, I 
think, of a Mr. Lloyd and a Mr. Barber ; 
another part of it was deposited in my 
name, and the name of Mr. Barber. 

To whom was the money to be paid, 
in the event of the application for the 
place succeeding ? — There was 6001. de- 
posited in the name of Messrs. Lloyd 
and Barber, I believe that would go into 
tlie hands of Mr. Lloyd ; Mr. Barber was 
a friend of Mr. Ludowick's, and the mo- 
ney was only to be takenout on the event 
of the appointment taking place ; the 
other 1571. (I think that was the sum) 
would have passed through my hands, 
and I should have paid it over to the per- 
son with whom I commvmicated. 

With whom was it that you commu- 
nicated ? — With an agent, who was ac- 
customed to make inquiries of that kind; 
may I be excused naming him ? — His 
name was Tyndale. 

Where does Mr. Tyndale live ?— He 
lives in Symonds-building, Chelsea, or 
Symonds-street. 

Who is Mr. Lloyd ?— Mr. Lloyd I do 
not know ; I believe he is an attorney. 

How came Mr. Lloyd to be entitled to 
so large a share of this sum ? — I under- 
stood that the agent would have a hand- 
some cmolumcntfrom it, which was, 1571. 

But the 1571. was deposited in your 
name and Mr. Barber's ? — It was. 

Then that 1571. was to go to the agent, 
Mr. Tyndale ?— Yes. 

I now inquire as to the 6001. who was 
to have the benefit of that ? — Mr. Lloyd 
would .have received that, I presume. I 
Ao not know of my own knowledge. 
26 



You do not know what Mr. Lloyd waft 
to do with it,whether he was to keep it I 
No ; I had no communication with Mr. 
Lloyd, or any one, upon that subject. 

W o introduced Mr. Ludowick to you ? 
Mrs. Clarke mentioned Mr. Ludowick 
to me : I never saw him : I meaninno- 
duced by name, not personally. 

Are you quite certain you never saw 
Mr. Ludowick ? — Never, to my knowl- 
edge. 

Did Mrs. Clarke tell you how she be- 
came acquainted with Mr. Ludowick ? 
Upon recollection, I am not certain whe- 
ther she said he was an acquaintance of 
her's, or an acquaintance of Mr. Ber- 
ber's ; but I understood from her c« n- 
versation that she knew Mr. Ludowick, 
that she had seen him ; she said he was 
a very genteel man, and very fit for the 
place, very much of a-gentleman, and a 
man of property. 

Did she state where he lived ? — I think 
she said he lived in Essex. 

D I you recollect what part ? — I am 
not certain whether she said Grays in 
Essex ; that is only her relation ; I think 
that she said Grays. 

Is Mrs. Clarke acquainted with Mr. 
Tyndale ?— No. 

Was she acquainted with Mr. Barber J 
Yes. 

Was she acquainted with Mr. Lloyd ? 
I do not think she is. 

Who introduced Mi*. Lloyd into this 
business ? — Mr. Tyndale. 

Who introduced Mr. Tyndale into it ? 
I introduced Mr. Tyndale into it, by 
making the inquiry. 

What share was Mrs. Clarke to have 
in the benefit to be derived from procur- 
ing this place ? — Nothing. 

Nothing at all ? — No, nothing. 

What share were you to have for the 
procuring this place ? — Nothing ; I did 
not mean to take any thing. 

You and Mrs. Clarke only did it for 
your pleasure ?— Mr. Ludowick was a 
friend of Mrs. darkens ; and I wished 
to oblige Mrs. Clarke by introdiicmg this 
thing, if I could. 

How came Mrs.CLarke to apply to yoa 
to assist her in procuring this place ?— 
I believe from my calling upon her. 

How came you to call upon her >— I 
called upon her sometimes ; she wrote 
to me ; and I wished to keep up nn ac- 
quaintance with her for the purpose of 
effecting the object of the ace .unt 

How came you to think that at tliis 
time Alr3. CliU'kd c«uJi4 Wp you m qU 



198 



Actuating the object of the account ? 1 
did think so. 

Througii whom ?-FroTn her ; 1 thought 
that she still had an influence, or some 
communication with the Duke. 

Did she so represent herself to you ? 
Yes. 

At what time ? She so represented 
herself to me when we were down at the 
Gouvt-martial, and since that time. 

At the time of the court-martial, and 
since that time, she represented to you, 
that she still had influence over the 
Duke of York to procure things to be 
done ? Yes, I understood that the con- 
nexion was not entirely at an end ; that 
she had still a connexion or an interest 
/ with him. 

Was this the first instance of your as- 
sisting her in procurnsf a place for her 
friend ? Yes, I think it was ; I do not 
recollect any thing: else. 

Is there any other instance in which 
you have been so employed ? Nothing 
effected at least. 

This was not effected ; was there any 
thinjj pise in which an attempt was made ? 
Yes ; she asked me whether a paymas- 
tership could be procured for a friend of 
her's. 

Who was that friend ?— It was a Mr. 
Wiir.ims. 

Where does he live ? I understood he 
lived in Devonshire. 

Did you endeavour to procure that 
pavmastership for Mr. Wdliams ? I 
mil 't- inqirr\, .'\nd understood that it 
misrht be effected ; but nothing was done 
in it. 

Of whom did you inquire ? Of the 
same ;>( rson. 

or Mr. Tyndale ? Yes. 

T I rough whom was Mr. Tyndale to 
pr >cure this paymastershlp ; did he tell 
yon >. No. 

Was there any money deposited upon 
that occasion ? Nothing'. 

Was there any other instance in which 
yon were apjjlied to by Mrs. Clarkr ? — 
Yes, in the sanve way, but nothinir done. 

On whose liebalf was that ? — That 
was Mr.Tboropson, who was connected 
Vf}:h her. 

When was that ? I ihink it was in 
Aiif^'isi. 

>V..s that before Mr. Wdhams' ? — 
Yes. 

An»'' before Mr. L'ldowick's ? Yes. 

I t' ' v.gjit vow stati- ', tl.at iheve luid 
been iu insc lu. of your a]i;> • ii^p for 
^y body before Mr. Ludowick -, 1 roia- 



understood you, I suppose ? Yes ; I di4 
not mean id say there was no instance of 
an application before ; 1 mentioned ihat 
as being the thing the most likely to be 
effected. 

.\bout what time was Mr. VVilliams' ? 
I think that Mr. Williams' was during 
the same period lliat she mentioned it 
to me ; I think about the time of Mr. 
Ludowick's. 

Was any money deposited upon that 
occasion ? No. 

What oiBce was he to obtain ? He 
was io have a paymastershlp, as siie re- 
presei'ted to me. 

What did Thompson want ? To go . 
into the md tia. ' 

Did you make any inquiries upon that ? 
Yes, Idid. 

Of whom did you inquire upon that ? 
The same person, Mi-. Tyndale. 

Do 30U re CO lectthe name of any other 
person for whom you were to mxke in- 
qtiiries I I think there was a Mr. Law- 
son. 

What office was he to obtain ? He 
wished to obtain a place in the custom* 
house, land -waiter. 

Did you make any inquiries respecting 
him ?--Yes,l did ; I made inquii-iesofthe 
same person, but nothing was effected. 

Was there any money deposited upon 
that occasion ? None. 

Did Mrs. Clarke recommend all these 
persons to you ? Yes. 

Is there any other person whom von 
can recollect ? No, I do not immedi- 
ately recollect any person besides. 

I think you stated, that there was n© 
money deposited, except in the cse of 
Liidowick ; was there any agreement 
for the deposit or payment of money in 
the other cases, in the event of the ap- 
plication succeeding ? In the event of 
the applicaiion succeeding, in the case 
of Ml'. Thompson, some remuneration 
was intended to be made. 

What ? I think it was about S501. 

For the commission in the militia ? — 
Yes. 

Who was to have that 2501. I I do 
not know, I am sure. 

Di<i you not negotiate with Mr. Tyn- 
dale ?--I askf d Mr.Tyndale about it, and 
he said he thougiit he could procure it. 

For '2501. ? Yes. 

Was it not at all mentioned in that 
conversation, who was to have the bene- 
fit of the 2501. ? No, I did not ask ,'.ny 
(questions of Mr. Tjndale : 1 thought it 
indejlicaie to ask c^uestious. 



i9d 



You were to hare nothing for any of 
these ;ransacti()i>s ? >io. 

Nor Mrs. uiavke? Nov Mrs. Clarke. 
Ml', i ..ompson was her brother, I tliiiik. 
In the oilier cases ot Mr. Luwson ana 
Mr. VViliiams, was she to have nothing- 
in those cases ? — I do not know tliat she 
WuS i 1 ajn pretty sure that she was not. 
Are you seiious in saying tiiat she was 
to have nothing for tiiose ? Yes. 

Do you know any person liiat siie calls 
the Duke of Portland m liicse transac- 
tions ? No. 

, You never heard her say, that she dig- 
nified you by the nanie of the Duke of 
Portland I — Never, till 1 heard it by ac- 
•ident. 

Wliat accident led you to hear thai ? 
— I was coming into the city one day, I 
mei sir George Hill, with whoni 1 have 
tile honour of being acquainted, and he 
ttild me the circumstance. 

Of her having mentioned it here ? — 
Yts ; I did not liear of it before.and had 
»0 ideaof tlie circumstance. 

Was Ludowick recommended for any 
other place beside tiiat of assistant com- 
missary ? — W'lienthat tailed, he wished 
to have a paymustership in lieu ot it, ra- 
ther than give up the money. I under- 
stood that from Mrs. Clarke ; but it did 
not turn out to be tlie case. 

How long is it since yon have given 
up uU hopes of succeeding for Mr. Lud- 
owick ?— I believe a month or iww. 

How happens it that the money still 
Temams in Mr. Birch's bank? — Because 
tliey have not asked to have it back again. 
I know ot no oti er reason ; ihey might 
, have it back whenever they pleased. I 
told Mrs. Clarke some time ago, tliey had 
belter take the nioney back, that there 
■was not a likelihood of it being efiected. 
Did you ever arquau.t P4r. Ludowick 
wiih that circumstance ? — I never spoke 
to liim. 

Had you any communication with Mr. 
Lloyd yourself J— .No. 

Are you at all acquainted with Messrs. 
Coleman and Keyler ? No, not at all. 

Do you recollect the christian nunie of 
the Mr, Williams whom you spoke of I 
No ; I do not. 

Did you ever see him ? — Not to my 
knowledge. 

Do you happen to know whether it is 
the same Mr. Williams who appeared in 
this House a few nights ago ? — I never 
saw that gentleman, but I have no reason 
to tliinkso ; because 1 understood hehved 
inOevoasiiu-e,and was a respectable man. 



Do you know whether Mr. Tyndala 

was origii;all.. iaieiis.gn auhe L ui loot, 
and afterwards a cornet in the l^tU 
light dragoons ? — I understood li, at iie 
had been m the army ; but i do not 
know in what regiment. 

Didyouevei uncus <u id from an\ j/cr* 
son that sir Arthur V\ tUesley's being en- 
gaged at Chelsea was the reason thai ihis 
business of Liidowick's did not suc- 
ceed .' — No; I undei stood from Mr. 
Tyndaie, that the trial at Chelsea Oieu- 
pied the public attention so much, ti at 
it stood in the way of the appoinuiient.- 
I'hen you never did hear tiom any of 
the parties sir Arthur Weilesle^'snanie 
mentioned ? — No. 

Up to what period did Mrs. Clarke 
represent herstlt lo you as being pos- 
sessed of influence with the Duke of 
York sufhcient to obtain places .' — 1 had 
reason fiom conversations witlihei, to 
think that even to the eve of this inqui- 
ry, the Duke had not deseitea her. 

Is that mere supposition, or has she 
stated to you any thing positively ti|H.n 
that subject since Ma}, IbOb ? — Slic has 
said those kind of things lo me, thai in- 
duced me to believe il, such as tiiat the 
Duke was about J)ro^ iding tor her upon a 
smaller estabhsiiment than lormeri} , and 
those kind oi things wliicii have induc- 
ed me to think he had not deserted lier. 
Did )ou yourself suj.pose you had any 
influence with the Duke of York .' — Not 
the least. 

1 lien how do you account f<;r Mrs. 
Clarke's en. ploying }ou to soiicu ta- 
vouis, which, \ou sa}, you understood 
she was able to obtain herself ? — I can- 
not account tor that. 

Did \ou ever represent to Mrs. Clarke, 
that you had any infiuence with the 
Duke of Portland I No. 

Willi wliom did}ou represent }ourself 
to have any influence, so as to induce her 
to niake those applications repeated} to 
you ? — 1 did not represent niyself as hav- 
ing influence with anj person whate\er. 
W ilh whom did you understand 'I'yn- 
dale to have an} influence ? — 1 lad not 
know ; Idid notaskhini any questions. 

Then the comnuttee are to nndei stand 
that }()u were a p^rty to the deposit of 
nioney in the hands of third persons, for 
the purpose. of procuring a place, with- 
out knowing through whose medium 
th.at place was to be procured ? — 1 did 
not know through whose medium it was 
to be procured. 
Did yvvL ever make application to Mrt 



200 



Clarke upo» any other subject, except 
the liqwjdation of the dtbt supposed to 
be clue to Mr. Maimers I I do not re- 
collect that I did. 

Wlien did you see sir George Hill ?— 
I saw sir George Hill on Saturday, and 
I saw him yesterday morning-. 

What rank in the militia was Mr. 
ThL.m)).son to obtain for 2501. f — A cap- 
tain's commission. 

In what regiment of militia ? — 1 do 
TJoi know the regiment. 

Mr. Tyndale negotiated the business? 
It was not negotiated ; I understood 
from Mr. Tyndale, that he could get it 
ejected, but it was never negotiated. 

Were you to receive any advantage 
from any of those transactions, if they 
had been carried into excecution i No, 
I should not have received any thing. 

What was you^ motive for undertak- 
ing such a negotiation ? It was to 
obhge Mrs. Clai'ke ; it was her relation. 

Was the negotiation respecting Mr. 
Ludowick to oblige Mrs. Clarke? — Yes, 
Le was a friend of her's. 

Are you acquainted witli Mr. Lloyd ? 

Did you ever write a letter to Mr. 
Lloyd ? — No, 1 do not recollect that I 
ever wrote to Mr Lloyd ; I did not 
know him ; I do not tliink I coidd pos- 
sibly write a letter to him ; I am pretty 
certsun I did not, because I had no com- 
inunication with him whatever. 

Are you quite certain you never wrote 
to Mr. Lloyd ? I am certain in my own 
mind ; I should be very much surprised 
to see a letter of mine to Mr. Lloyd. 

Recollect whether you ever did or not 
write to Mr. Lloyd ? — 1 do not recollect 
tjiat 1 ever did ; I am confident,as far as 
my memory serves me, that I did not. 

Are you certain that you never did ? — 
I am as certain of tliat as I can be of 
tnost things. 

Did you ever see Mr. Ludowick?--No. 

Who first spoke to you of Mr. Ludo- 
wick ? Mrs. Clarke. 

What did Mrs. Clarke know of Mr. 
JLudowick ? I do not know she spoke 
to me as if he was a friend of hcr's, but 
I do not know what the acquaintance 
was between them. 

You were to procure this situation for 
Mr. Ludowick ? — I was not to procui'e 
it ; but I mentioned it to Mr. Tyndale, 
"ts-ho thought he could eHect it. 

You were employed by Mrs. Clarke to 
wention Mr. Williams to Mr. Tyndale ? 



And Mr. Thompson ? Not to men- 
tion him to him, but I mentioned them 
to him of my own accord. 

She applied to you to procure those 
situations ? Yes. 

Did ymi represent yourself as able, by 
your own influence, to procuie those 
situations ? Not the least ; 1 never bad 
euch an idea. 

Did you ever tell her you were to apply 
to a third person to procure those situa- 
tions ? I do not know that 1 told her 
that distinctly ; but I said I would in- 
quire, to the best of my recollectaon, 
whetlicr such a thing could be obtamed. 

You are ceitain of that ? 1 am certain I 
never represented my self as having any in- 
tercstto procure any place ,not personally. 

Are you certain you never told her 
that you were to apply to another person 
to procure tliose appointments ? To the 
best of my recollection, I said 1 would 
make inquiry. 

Did you ever name Tyndale to Mrs. 
Clarke ) Never, 1 believe. 

Who introduced Tyndale to you ? I 
met Mr. Tyndale frequently at a place 
where I used to go. 

Where was that ? It was a Mr. Ro- 
bins, in Bai-tlett's buildings. 

VVho was Mr. Robins ? He was a 
solicitor ; I used to see him there vhen 
I called occasionally. 

Did you ever see Mr. Barber 3 I saw 
Mr. Bai'ber once. 

Where i 1 called upon him. 

W'here ? In Union-court. 

About this business of Mr. Ludow- 
ick's ? Yes, about this business, to of- 
fer to return him the money. 

What was his answer J I think he 
said he would see Mr. Ludow ick ; he 
did not ask for the return of the money. 

Do you know what connexion subsists 
between Mr. Barber and Mr. Lloyd ? 
No, I do not know that any connexioo 
subsists between them. 

You never saw Mr. Lloyd ? Not to 
v\y knowledge. 

Do you recollect now having ever 
written to Mr. Lloyd i No, I do not. 

Are those transactions with respect 
to Mr. Ludowick, Mr. Thompson, Mr. 
Williams, and Mr. Lawson, the only 
transactions of the sort in which you 
recollect to have been engaged ? I do 
not recollect any others. 

Recollect yourself. There have been 
tilings mentioned, but nothing done. 

Some others have been mentioned J 
Yes, I tlwak there hare. 



201 



What are those ? I think a place of a 
clerk in ilie war-office. 

Wiicn vvii3 thai >. I believe it was 
*boui August, but I am not quite certain. 

August last ? Yes. 

Had Mrs. Clarke any thing to do with 
that ? Yes, 1 believe she asked me 
about it- 
Did you undertake that, at the request 
«f Mrs. Clarke J I made an inquiry. 

Did you make an inquiry at tiie request 
of Mrs. Clarke .' I think I did. 

Was it or was it not at the request of 
Mrs. Clarke, that you made that inqui- 
ry I I til ink it was. 

Are you sure ? I am pretty confident. 

Be quite sure. I think so, that it was 
at her request. 

Was it effected ? No, it was not. 

What were jouto receive for that, 
(Supposing it had been etiected ? I should 
Mot have received any thing for that. 

Was any body to have received any 
thing for that •' Yes. ^ 

VVho ? I do not know who ; it was 
nevernegotialed. 

In behalf of whom was the place to be 
procured -' I do not recollect the name. 

What sum was to be given in case it 
■was obtained J I think about three or 
four hundred pounds. 

To whom did you apply about that ? 
Mr. Tyndale : I did not know any body 
jjise that was likely to eHcct this object. 

Was it at Mrs. Clarke's request that 
you undertook that ? I think it was. 

You do not recollect the name of the 
person ? No. 

Do you recollect any other trans- 
action ? No, I do not recollect any 
other. 

There is this clerkship in the war-of- 
fice, thi- affair of Mr.Ludowick, this af- 
fair of Mr. Williams, this affair of Mr. 
Thompson, this affair of Mr. Lawson ; 
do you recollect anj other ? No, I do 
not. 

Are you quite sure there was no other 
transaction of the same sort ? I do not 
recollect any other. 

You do not know that there was not ? 
No, I do not recollect any other 

You arc not sure that there ,was no 
other ? My memory may escape me, but 
I do not recollect any other. 

What was the place which you nego- 
tiated for Mr. Russel Manners, in the 
year 1806 I I did not negotiate any 
place for him. 

Did you not endeavour to obtain a 
place for Mr. Kussei Manu«:rii, tlu'ougU 



the medium of Mrs. Clarke, in 1806 ?— 
No. 

What was your transaction with Mrs. 
Clarke in lb06 ? 1 had no transaction 
with Mrs. Clarke in 1806. 

What was your acquaintance with her 
in 18u6 .' It was through the medium 
of Mr. M..nners, who married my wife's 
sister ; I had no iicquuintance with her 
previous to that period. 

From 1806 to April 1808, your ac- 
quaint.incc with Mrs. Clarke dropped, 
did it not .' Yes ; I do not think 1 saw 
Mrs. Clarke from August or September 
1800 till tlie court-martial in April 1808; 
I do not recollect that I did. 

That court-martial was held at Col- 
chester ? It was held at Weeley, near 
Colchester. 

How soon after that court-martial did 
you again see Mrs. Clarke ! I do not^ 
recollect ; I did not know where Mrs. 
Clarke lived. 

Where did she live when you next 
saw hei I If I recollect right, she lived 
in Holies-street , lodged there for a short 
period. 

You do not know in what month that 
was ? No, I cannot speak positively, 
but I think it was before she went to 
Bedford-place. 

Did you go to her of your own accord, 
or did she send to you .' She wrote me 
a note, to call upon her ; I did not know 
where she lived. 

She stated, I suppose, in her letter, 
where jou were to call upon her .' Yes. 

What was the object of her desiring 
to see you ? I do not recollect what she 
said ; I think it was something relative 
to what passed at the court-martial, but 
1 do not recollect. 

Was it not to obtain some place for 
Mrs. Clarke, that she sent for you •' No. 

You are positive of that ? Yes, 1 am 
pretty positive of it ; 1 have not the least 
recollection of it. 

When was it that the first of these 
transactions )0U have mentioned took 
place. I liiink in August. 

riiat was a clerkship in the war-office, 
was it not ? No, 1 think it was about 
Mr. Thompson. 

Was Mr. i hompson's the first trans- 
action of this sort that took place after 
the court-martial ? 1 think it was ; there 
was no great distance of time betweca 
all these things 

Was there no other transaction of 
this sort took place between the court- 
roartial aiici tUg atiaar of iflv. Thompson, 



201^ 



DasSdes those •which you have enumer- 
ated .' 1 cLo not recollt'Ct any. 
,Huvc jou ever prosecuud uny business 
of this sort with success ? Never. 

Never in your lite ? No. 

And you engaged in lliese businesses 
out of pure good nuture ? I ihouglit it 
■would oblige Mrs Clarke, and 1 wished 
tv accumplisli iie object I had in view, 
to have Mr. Manners' accounts hquidat- 
ed. 

How could you suppose, that by oblig- 
in,4 Mrs. Clarke you could get Mr. 
M.iimcrs' accounts liquidated, when slie 
had so little interest, that she was oblig- 
exl to apply to you to accomplish tiiese 
difierent ijusluesses ? Because she told 
me ihat she still had an interest with 
tlie Duke ot York, and that she was iu 
some degree under his |)roteciion. 

Are you quite positive she told you 
that i I amquite satishcdtliat she told 
me that, or gave me to understand it ; I 
hiid no reason to disjiute it, from the 
tenor of her conversation to me more 
than once, as 1 nieniioneil before, that 
the Duke of York kepv her upon a small- 
er establishment, and 1 really believed 
si 10 was under the protection of the Duke 
oV York, or that he was about to rc-es- 
t.i>'iish her. 

iyict It neveroccur to you to remark to 
hv.-, ihut if siie had that influence witii 
the Duke of York, she was much mure 
liKtly 10 prevail in such transactions than 
Ji.urself ? No, 1 never made that remark. 

\V here was it that she gave you to 
ttndersiand this, at Colchester ? 1 think 
it was at Colchester, or going- dov.n to 
Colcliester ; it was about that time. 

You do not now recollect any other 
transactions besides those you h:u e m; n- 
t •.!!.• ! .' No, I do not call any to my 
memory. 

ion vio not recollect ever having writ- 
ten to Mr. Lilo)d I No, I do not. 

How many interviews do}ou suppose 
youhad atditlcreni times vvitli Mr.Tyn- 
dalc ? Upon my word I cannot lell, 1 
liiive no idea ; 1 have been used to see 
him freqnemly.i 

.\ grv ^\ iuany ? Yes, I have frequent- 
ly seen iiim. 

i lien do you mean to state, in point of 
fiict, upcm no one of those interviews you 
have ever, from your own cuiiosity, or 
any other motive, asked Mi. Tjiulaie 
through whose interest those appoint- 
ments were to be procured ? Upon one 
occasion, in the csi. (>• Ludowick I think 
i^ was, I askedMi Tyudale, pressing very 



much to have it effected, what channel 
do )ou suoi-H)se this c^mes vhrough ? He 
supposed ih.i it might come through the 
Wellesiey inti lest, 1 think he s.ud ; lie 
did not uiention any purtituLr person. 
. That answer wa'i givcii bv Mr. Tyn«- 
dale in respect to Mr. Ludovvick's ap- 
pointment ? Yes. 

Did you nevei hear Mr.Tyndale men- 
tion any other name in respect to ihe 
channel through which i.ny other was to 
come I No, 1 did not ask him any ques* 
lion as to the ch.uinel, excepi upon that 
occasion, when I presseu so nuich to have 
it eHecled. 

Mr Ludowick's'was the third applica- 
tion you made to Mi. Tyiuiale ; do you 
mean to state that in the applications for 
'I'honipson and Wiiiiams, which were 
previous, yiu never heard through whose 
influence those were to be obuuned ? 
No, I did nnt ask him any questions. 

Not till the third application ? 1 do 
not say it was the third application, but 
not till that application. 

What led you to Mr. Tyndale ? Be- 
ing acquainted with him, ant! knowing 
that he was a kind ot ; gent, and had in- 
formation of tiiul nature. 

Hud.you atiy reason tolcnow that Mr. 
Tjndaie had the power ot obtaining any 
oiJices ? No, not personally. 

Then do you mean to state that you 
applied to Mr. Tyndale in a great many 
instances, without knowing that liieie 
was any piob..bihty of his obtaining the 
otiiees he was eniplojed to obtain ? Yes, 
except from his own statement or rep- 
resentation, that he tlioughl he could 
get Uuni. 

By what means did he state that he 
tliought he could etiiect them ? He did 
not stale the means ; I do not inquire 
inio the channel ; 1 do not know 
what communications he had, nor with 
whuui he was eonneeted. 

Do you mean to state, that after you 
had applied to him repeatedly, and he 
had failed in obtaining those situations 
for which he was applied to, tliat \ou 
cgntiniied s\ill to appiy to him without 
hearing from him the means by which 
he was to obtain future situations .' Yes, 
I did not know that he had any interest 
in himself to eilcct these objects. 

Had you been in the habit of negotiat- 
ing, or have ever negotiated for any situ- 
ations of the kind, previous to your 
knowledge of Mrs. Clai'kc ? No. 

State whctlier Mrs. Clarke gave you 
any hopes that Mr. Uussell Manners' 



203 



hl>ject wouVl be effected t I Was about 
to <tato liie [) irixu'l of >i letter, l)iit it is 
not corrccllv evidence, wliicli I do not 
know wliethcr I have seen or not; but I 
rcineinlier the contents of it perfectly 
well. f).u*tic ilarly on.i expression of the 
letter, purported to be written by the 
Dike, and it said, that lie would lyive 
M" Manners a place suitable to his name 
and 'uindy. I re member that expression, 
I think/tliose were the very words ; or, 
that would not disgrace his name and fa- 
mily ; something' to that purport. This 
conmunication w is not made to me, it 
was made to Mr. M inners in" M'-s. 
Clarke, this letter i hat I speak of, and 
Mr. Manners conmunicatcd it to me. 

Did Ml- M iUners state to you that he 
had seen such a letter, or did he brinf 
such a letter to you ? I am sure that he 
stated such a letter to me, but I do not 
think I saw the letter. 

Do voii recollect at what time this 
passed ? I think about the m )nth of 
August, 1806, as nearly as I can recol- 
lect, perhaps it mip^^ht be July. 

Did Mr. M luners state lo you from 
vrhoiTi he had the letter ? To the best of 
my recollection it was a letter written 
by the Duke to Mrs. Clarke, which she 
shewed to him. I do not know whether 
she enclosed the letter to M:-. M.mners, 
wlietherhe had the actual possession of 
it, or only saw it in her possession. 

Did you see Mrs. Clarke afterwards, 
and have any co wersalion with her up- 
on this letter ? I do not recollect th.at I 
had. I saw her a'"terwards, but I do 
not recollect that I said anylhinu to her 
upon the subject. 

When you saw her afterwards had 
yon any conversation with her upon Mr. 
Manners' business ? I do not recollect 
that I had ; for I pjenerally saw her in 
tlie company o^" Mr. Manners. 

When you saw her in company with 
Mr. Manners afterward, did any conver- 
sation p.iss on Mr. Manners' business ? 
No, I do not recollect that there was. 

Not up to this hour ? No ; Mr. Man- 
ners has !)een abroad for a year and a 
balf. 

■}( Have you conducted his affairs since 
hehas beenaliroad? No; he has no atlUirs 
V) coiduct, in fiict. 

Did Mrs, Cl.irke, in yo<ir hearinpf, or 
to you, say, that, she mentioned Mr. 
Russel M mners' business t) the Duke 
of York ? I do not rec:)llect that she 
ever said that in my prcsciu'c. 

Dili yo«, ever k<tai: he^- say any thinj; 



upon that subject ? I do not recollcet 

that I ever did ; lor 1 saw Mr M. inner* 
so frequently, tiiat he communicated 
every thiniy to ine. 1 do not iliink 1 ever 
spoke to her ui)on that subject. 

Did any conversation pass between 
her and Mr. .Manners upon the subject 
in your presence ! I do not recollect 
any conversation. 

Dill you transact all this business fot' 
her j^r.atuitously ; or did you hope- lliat 
this object would be etti-cted, and that 
you sho\dd be remunerated in that way? 
I had no j^r.atuity for it; but I hoped 
that 1 should get the account settled. 

Have you expected that in the course 
of the last year ? 1 have expected it ; I 
remember speakinjj to Mrs. Clark© 
about it frequently, and not long ago. I 
think about a month. 

You spoke to her on the subject about 
a month ago ? Yes. 

Did she at that time give you hopes 
thai it would be eifected ? She said, 
you may speak to me upon that about 
two months hence. 

Did she say at all that she had men- 
tioned the sid)ject to his Royal High- 
ness ? No, s!ie never did. 

Not at any other time ? No, she seem- 
ed as if she wislied to postpone that ap- 
plication: that 1 must speak to her about 
two montlis hence. That was about a 
month or six weeks ago. 

Was it up to that late period of a 
month or six webks ago you still sup- 
posed her to have in'Juence with the 
Duke of York? Yes, ) still thought so 
to the eve of this inquiry, from her rep- 
resentations to me and her conversation. 

Did you think so from h>r represen- 
tations and conduct ? Yes, from her 
representations. 

You have stated, that in one of those 
trans.ictions the money was left at the 
house of Messrs. Birch and Co. ; have 
you any credit with that house ? No, I 
have no account with that hf)use. 

I'hey do not discoimt bills for you ? 
No. 

Do you happen to know whetlier Mrs. 
Clarke has any account witii the house 
of Messrs. i3u'ch, where this money wa» 
left ? I do not know that she has. 

Who proposed that the money should 
be deposited there ? I think it was VIr. 
Tyndale ; I am pretty confident it was. 

Has it ever happened to you, in truuB- 
actions of this nature, to have money de- 
posited .it a lioase wliere you have a cre- 
dit ? 1 never hud any of this money dr-« 



204 



}iosited upon my o\^^ account ; I do not 
knovs' whether it is customary. 

I do not ask as to money deposited on 
youro wn account, but moneyon accountof 
pci'sons concerned in such a ncf^otia- 
tion ? I h'ave no experience upon that 
Subject, thoug'h I believe it is customa- 
ry to deposit the money with tlie bank- 
crs to one of the parties, but I do think 
Birch and Company were bankers to 
any of the parties. 

Has it ever happened to you in a nego- 
tiation of this kind, that the money 
should he deposited at a banker's where 
you had a credit ? No. 

Was it Mrs. Clarke who made the 
|iroposition to you in the fi'st afl'air yon 
were concerned in, or yon to Mrs, Clarke ? 
I think Mrs. Clark'.' usk-'l me the ques- 
tion, I think she made tlie proposition. 

What question did Mrs. Clarke ask 
you ? I think it was about Th6mpson. 

What was the question Mrs. CI .rke 
put to you ? That she wished to get a 
commission for him, and inquired whe- 
ther it could be effected. 

Did the hankers allow any interest 
upon the sum deposited ? I apprehend 
not ; I take that for (j^ranted. 

You are sure they did not allow four 
per cent ? I am pretty certain they did 
not. 

Are you perfectly sure?' I have had 
ao communication with the bankers ; I 
never heard that they did, and 1 rather 
think they did not, for the parties do not 
expect interest ibr their money, au'l I do 
not think that tlie bankers, upon those 
occasions, allow any interest g-enerally; 
I never heard that they did. 

Are you perfectly certain th.it you 
■ever did, in anv former transactions, 
derive an advantag-e from the lodg'ement 
of money at Messrs. Birch and Compa- 
ny's ? Yes ; I am perfectly confident 
of it. 

You have said, that you were not cer- 
tain wh- ther some convers.ation passed 
with M.S. Clarke at the court -mu-tial, or 
fro'npf down to. Colchester ; did vou e^o 
down to Colchester with Mrs. Clarke ? 
I dkl. She called upon me ; she s.iid she 
was p^oing' to Colchester, and 1 was sum- 
morel very suddenly to the court mar- 
tial ; I had but an hour's notice ; site said 
she was g^oing- down in a post chaise ; I 
said, then vve may as well syo togfether, 
and we acrordin_^ly did ^o down in a 
oh.pso totrt'thi-r. 

Did you not g-ive evidence upon that 
court martial that you bad not seen Mrs. 



Clarke either for some tcreeks or monthsi 
precediusT that trial ? I thii»k to the bt-st 
of my recollection, that 1 said 1 had not 
seen tier from August 1806 till she call- 
ed upon me. 

Up to the period of your evidence ?— 
ITp to the time when she called upon 
me. 

Will you be perfectly clear in yourre- 
collection, whether yon did not say that 
upon oath ?— I do not recollect that I 
did ; I should wish to hear that part read 
ifitisin court; I have no idea that 
I differed upon that occasion from what 
I state now. I am sure, upon both oc- 
casions, I state to the best of my recol. 
lection : I may be mistaken in these tri- 
vial circumstances which did notinterest 
me : that I did not see her from Aug-ust 
1806 till she called upon me to g-o dow« 
to the court-martial; I think I stated that. 
Will you state positively that you did 
not upon that trial, on oath, state that 
you had not seen Mrs. Clarke for either 
weeks or months up to the period at 
which you gave your evidence ?— I do 
not recollect th.at; if I did it must be a 
mistake ; I fancy I corrected it, if I 
stated that ; but I must be mismiderstooi 
upon that occasion. 

In any of the conversations you had 
with Mrs. Clarke or Mr. Tyndale on the 
subject of these transactions, was tlie 
Duke of York's name ever mentionedj — - 
Never. 

You are sure it was not upon any oc- 
casion ? I am certain it was not ; nor 
the name of an}' other person except in 
the way I liave mentioned. 

You have stated that about two months 
ago you informed Mrs. Clarke that there 
was no hope of getting a situation for 
Mr. Ludowick ; what circumstance in- 
duced you to form that opinion, and to 
communicate to Mrs. Clarke that there 
was no hope of success for Mr. Ludo- 
wick ? From Mr. TjTidale ; he told me 
that he thought that he could not effect 
it. 

Mr. TjTidale told you that he thought 
he could not effect it ? Yes. 

Did he give you any reason for his 
failure ? I think he said, to the best of 
my recollection, that anew an-angement 
had taken place in that department, or 
some thing to that purport. 

When did Mr. Tjndale tell you that 
the appointmc* was only delayed oa 
accovmt of the Inquiry at Chelsea re- 
specting the Convention at C intra ? It 
WHS during tliat Inqviiry on that Trial. 



205 



Then you were led to hope, pending 
Ihe board of inquiry at Chelsea, the ap- 
pointment would take place as soon as 
that was over ? — I thought so from what 
he said to me. 

And two months ago you were in- 
formed by Mr. Tyndale that there was 
no chance of success owing to a new 
arrangement i — I think it was only about 
a month. 

^The following questions and answers 
were read.] 

" In any conversations you had with 
Mr«. Clarke or Mi. Tyndale on the sub- 
ject of these transactions, was the Duke 
of York's name ever mentioned 1 — Nev- 
er." 

" You are sure it was not upon any 
occasion ? — I am certain it was not, nor 
the name of any other person, except in 
the way I have mentioned." 

What do you mean by *' except in the 
way you have mentioned" ? — That he 
said, that the place of assistant commis- 
sary he thought would be procured 
through the Weilesley interest, not men- 
tioning any particul:ir name. 

Were you yourself acquainted with the 
band-writing of the letter which you 
stated to have been a letter from the 
Duke of York ? — I do not recollect that 
I ever saw the letter. 

Were you ever engaged in any trans- 
action about writerships or cadetships 
for India ? — No, I think : excepting once 
a person asked me about a cadeiship. 

Who was the person who anked you 
about a cudetship ? — Mr. Donovan. 

You are acquainted with Mr. Dono- 
van, are you ? I have an acquaintance 
with him. 

What did he ask you about a cadet- 
ship ? He asked me whether it could 
be prociu'ed. 

When was this ? I think it was about 
six weeks ago. 

Wiiat did you answer ? I said, that 
I would inqtiire about it. 

Did you inquire ? Yes. < 

Wliat was the result ? That it might 
be procured was the result. 

Of whom did you inquire I I inquired 
of this same gentleman. 

And he told you it might be procured .' 
Yes. 

Was it procured ? No. 

How came it not to be procured, do 
you know ? I do not know how it came 
not to be procured. 

Tyndide told you he could not prOfiUTg 
t i Nq, be said he could- 
27 



From whom did you learn that it could; 
not be procured ? I do not know that it 
cannot be procured. Notliing is done 
in it that I know of. 

What suspended the negotiation ? I 
do not know exactly, but I fancy the 
panty was not in town, or something of 
that kind. 

What party ? An acquaintance of Mr, 
Donovan's. 

The party who wanted to procure it ? 
Yes 

Is the business in suspense now ? Is 
it in a train of proceeding now ? I do 
not know. 

How long is it since you have lost 
sight of ^hi8 transaction ? I believe per- 
haps a week. 

Then a week ago you knew something 
of this transaction, did you ! Yes. 

What did you know of it then ? Was 
it in a train of proceeding then ? Yes. 

Had the party come to town then ?— 
No, I believe not. 

It was in the regular process, was it J 
Yes, I understood it might be effected. 

From svhoni did you understand that J 
From Mr. Tyndale. 

Do you expect now it will be effected ^ 
Upon my word I do not know. 

What was to be paid if this transac- 
tion was brought to a successful conclu- 
sion I I do not know that any particu- 
lar sum was mentioned upon that un- 
less it was 1501. 

One hundred and fifty pounds, to be 
paid to whom ? That 1 do not know, 
Mr. Tyndale, I suppose, would receive 
it, effecting the thing. 

Mr. Tyndale would have 1501. \ Yes. 

What should you have I I should not 
have any thing. Mr. Donovan, I sup- 
pose, would have paid the money to me, 
and I should have paid it over to Mr^ 
Tyndale. 

Are you a lawyer ? Yes. 

Were you aware that this was an il- 
legal transaction ? No. 

Are you aware of that now ? No. 

Was this the only occasion on which 
Mr. Donovan employed you to negotiate 
a writership, or a cadetship to India I 
Yes. 

Are you positive of that J Yes, I do 
not recollect any other. 

Are you positive there was no other ? 
Yes. 

Quite positive ? Yes. 

How long have you been acquainted 
with Mr. Donovan ? I do not exactly 
KecoU&ct, peJ'luips a year. 



206 



Try to recollect as nearly m you can ? 
Itliiiik it is sibiMit a year, not qiiile 

Do you manage Mr. Donovan's af- 
fairs ? No. 

Are you an ajijent of Mr. Donovan's 
in other matters besides this ? No 

How lontj have you been an ap^cnt of 
his in these transactions ? I am not an 
ajjent of iiis. 

How lonphas Mr. Donovan consulted 
yo»i, or courted yo»ir assistance in trans- 
actions of this sort ? I do not know ex- 
actly ; I have called u])on Mr. Donovan 
occasionally upon other matters. 

How often has Mr. Donovan talked 
to you upon matters of this kind ? I 
cannot tell. 

In how many instances has Mr. Don- 
ovan employed you in transactions of 
this sort ? Only on th!<t one. 

Are you quite positive he has cm- 
ployed you upon no other I I do not re- 
collect any other. 

Upon what other transactions did you 
go to see Mr. Donovan ? Mr. Donovan 
is intimate wilh lord Moira, and I have 
called uprP him to know whether lord 
Moira's s!hte was arrived in England, 
because 1 expected a relation of mine 
would come over about the same time, 
or that I should have inlellig-ence about 
her. 

Come from where ? From Vienna. 

Do you know a person of the name of 
Gibson ? No ; what Gibson ? 

Do you know of a Mr. Gibson of Cov- 
entry-street ? No. 

Do you know a Mr. Gibson who was 
lately negotiatii\g' for the place of tide- 
waiter ? No. 

You never heard of him I No. 

Mr. Donovan never named him to 
yoti } No. 

Did Mr. Donovan introduce you to 
Mrs Clarke at any time ? No. 

Did you never see Mrs. Clurke from 
the year 1806 till the time she called up- 
on you to i'-o with her to Colchester in 
April 180S > 1 do not recollect that 1 did. 

Had you ever any intercourse with 
her by letter during that period .' Yes, 
I think I had letters from her before the 
court martial, about her brother, Mr. 
Thompson. 

Was this upon the aflair of the court- 
martial ? I believe that related to it. 

Try to be certain what it was she wrote 
to you about . I really cannot recollect 
the contents of the letter, but I think it 
res])ected se.mc bills of exchange which 
c»me before the court-martial, juxd there 



was some difficulty about tliem ; she was 
afraid he would be arrested, I tliiuk ; 
but I do not recollect the purport of the 
letter. 

Had you no covrcspcmdence wilh her 
about matters of this sort ? No, 1 do not 
recollect any communication of the sort. 

Was it in consequence of that commu- 
nication that she called upon you in the 
chaise as she weni down ? I recollect 
that she wrote to me a fe w days before, 
that she thought she should have occa- 
9i(m to desire me to attend at Colchester 
upon that business. 

How man} letters had yon from Mrs. 
Clarke during the period between 1806 
and 1808 ? 1 am sure I do not know. 

All about this business of the court- 
martial ? No. 

What were the other letters abotit I 
1 do not recollect ; nothing of any con- 
sequence, I believe. I do not think I 
heard from her for several months ; those 
letters that I allude to, I think, came 
from Hami)stead ; but the contents are 
so immaterial to me, tliat I do not call 
them to recollection. 

They were not letters of business ?— 
No, I \ hink not ; I do not recollect the 
contents of them. 

When did you last see Mr. Donovan ? 
I think I saw him last Friday or Satur- 
day ; 1 rather think Friday. 

Had von any conversation with him 
at that time about the cadetship ? No, I 
do not think I had. 

Are }ou positive you had not ? I do 
not recollect that I had. 

Had you, or had you not, any conver- 
sation at that time with Mr. Donovan 
upon that subject .' I do not i-ecollect 
that I Jiad. 

You are not positive ? I think I am 
positive. 

You have stated that it is customary 
in transactions of such a nature as those 
yoti have been speaking of, to deposit 
the money with the banker of one of the 
parties ; what do you mean by custom- 
ary ? I did not speak of my own knowl- 
edge, but 1 believe it is usual ; 1 believe 
it is natural to deposit it with the banker 
of one of the parties. 

Then you do not know that it is the 
custom ? No ; but I rather take it for 
granted that it is customary to deposit 
the money with the banker of one of the 
parties. 

Refresh your memory, and inform the 
committee whether you can now recol- 
lect any negotiation of this sort besides 



207 



the one of Mr. Ludbwlck's, the one of 
Mr. Williams', the one of Mr. Thomp- 
son's, the one of Mr. I.awson's, the one 
respecting the clerkship in the war-of- 
fice, and the one respecting- the cadet- 
aliip ? No, I do not recollect any. 

What reason did Mrs. Clarke give you 
for wishing you to speak to her in two 
jnontiis respecting Mr. Russell Manners' 
aftkirs? She did not give any reason for it. 

You have said that you are a solicitor 
b\ profession ; you are piiid for jonr trou- 
ble in transactions of business, are you 
not ? ' Yes, in professional business 

How could you aflbrd to transact so 
many intricate businesses quite gratui- 
tously ? I have done a great deal of bu- 
siness gratuitously in my profession. 

You have said, that in negotiating tiiis 
business wit!) Mr. Tyndale you had but 
little liopes of success given to you ; did 
you represent the matters to the gentle- 
men who applied to you m the same liglit, 
or did you magnify their chunce of suc- 
cess .' I had no communication with 
those gentlemen, but only with Mrs. 
Clarke ; 1 communicated to her. 

Can you recollect any single circum- 
stance, oi" any single expression of Mrs. 
Clarke's, that could serve as a foiuidation 
for your suspicion that she had any influ- 
ence with the Duke cf York, as to grant- 
ing places since 1806 ! 1 only collected 
from her conversation that she still had 
an interest with the Duke of York, but 
she said nothing about a power to grant 
places or any thing of that sort. 

Do you know of her oflering to pro- 
cure, or of her pretending to endeavour 
to procure any place by her own influ- 
ence with the Duke, during that period, 
from the latter end of 1806 I I do not, 
from the latter endof 1806, recollect her 
saying any thing to that purport. 

Would you have been anxious to 
oblige Mrs. Clarke, if she had not given 
you reason to suppose that she still pos- 
sessed influence with the Commander 
in Chief? No. 

At what period did Mrs. Clarke rep- 
resent to you that the Duke of York was 
about to reinstate jier upon a reduced 
establishment ? I think that was about 
the time of going down to the^ court- 
martial. 

Mrs. MARY ANN CLARKE called in. 
Examined by the Covmiittee 
Have you any papers of Mr. Maltby's 
in your hand ? Yes, I have. 
[The witness delivered in some papers. 



State fi'om whom you received those 
difii[;rent papers ? 1 received -.hv^st lujm 
Mr. Malt by, and those two from Mr. 
Barber ; there is Mr. Barber's name to 
one of them. 

Do those you received from Mr. Malt- 
by purport to be Mr. Maltby's hand- 
writing I Yes, his name is to two or 
three of them. 

Do they all purport to be his hand- 
writing ? Yes they are all his hand> 
writing. 

Did you ever see Mr. Maltby write ? 
Yes, many times. 

Do you know that they are his hand- 
writing ? Yes. 

You are positive of that fact ? Yes. 

Have you ever seen Mr. barber wriie ? 
Yes ; this is only a sort of copy of how 
the monej was to be lodged. 

Is that Mr. Barbers hand-writing ? 
Yes, they are by the same hand, and 
his name is to one. 

Have you any other letters which you 
wish to deliver in ? Yes, I have. 

From whom are they? Three of them 
are from colonel M'Mahon to nie ; I 
have lost the others, I fancy. 

Have )ou any other letters which you 
wish to deliver in ? 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

[The witness uas again called in.] 

H.ave you any other letters which >ou 
wisli to produce ! — To shfw 1 dicl not 
tell a story about Dr. O'Meara, I hive a 
letter of recommendation fiom the arch- 
bishop of Tuam, not to me but to the doc- 
tor himself. 

Any thing more ? — General Clavering , 
I fancy, informed the honourable gentle* 
men here, that he never had any thing to 
say to me upon military aflivirs ; general 
Clavering being a disti-essed man, he 
was then a colonel, I sjioke to the Duke 
respecting him ; and had a great deal of 
difficulty, more so than as to any other 
man that I ever applied for in getting any 
sort of employ mcni for him. 

Have you any papers relating to that 
matter ? At last 1 prevailed upon the 
Duke to give him a district, and with it 
he made him a brigadier general.entirely 
through my means. He afterwards ask- 
ed me to get him a regiment ; and, fear- 
ing they might be all given away before 
his Royal Highness came to town, I 
wrote to him when he was reviewing 
along the coast ; here is the letter whicb 
his Koyal Highness wrote to me, in 
which he mentioned Gen. Chivei ng'S 
name. There is another from the DukCj 



SOS 



in which he acknowledges about Dr. O'- 
Mcava, that l\e wouid serve him as soon 
fts he could : it does not speak of the 
aixlibishopric, it merely acknowledges 
that he knows such a man. And the 
other is from colonel Shaw, when in the 
Downs, just before he sailed for the 
Cape of Good Hope, complaining of be- 
ing put upon half pay. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

[The witness was again called in.] 

Do you know that to be the writing of 
his Royal Highness the Duke of York ? 
— Yes, I do ; but if not, Mr. Adam can 
speak to it. 

Is tliat [^another letter] the hand-writ- 
ing of his Royal Highness ' — Yes. 

Have you seen the Duke of York write? 
Yes, I have. This, addressed to George 
Farquhar.Esq.is his usual hand-writing; 
whenever he addresses Mrs. Clarke,the 
outside is always in a fictitious hand. 
This is addressed, Mrs. Clarke, to be left 
at the Post Office, at Worthing ; the in- 
side of both letters is his usual hand. 

How did you come by the letter of 
the archbi.shop of Tuam ?— It was left 
amongst Dr.O'Meara'spapers,amonghis 
documents, by accident, and I did not de- 
stroy it, because I thought it might be of 
some future service to him ; when I gave 
him his papers, this was left by accident. 

Do you recollect through what medi- 
um you received colonel Shaw's letter, 
•whether by post or a private hand 1 — I 
fancy it went to Coutts* the bankers ; I 
think he directed me to write to him al- 
ways there under cover, and the cleiks 
would lake care of them ; but I am not 
q\'ite certain, I think it was brought to 
me by a private hand. 

Do you know colonel Shaw's hand so 
•well as to be able to speak to that being 
his hand-writing ? Yes, 1 do. 

You say that is colonel Shaw's writ- 
ing ? — Yes, it is. 

Did you ever see Dr. O'Meara ? — Yes, 
very often indeed. 

Who is Dr. O'Meara '-—He is an Irish 
gentleman, a clergyman, 1 do not know 
better how to describe him ; he is very 
well known in Ireland. 

Where was this letter purporting to 
be a letter from tlie arclibishop of Tuam 
to him, found ? Among my own pa- 
peis ; Dr. O'Meara has written me sev- 
eral letters for it, but 1 could not find it 
'till about haif a year ago. 

Did Dr. O'Meara send you that let- 
ter ] Yes, he did, he gave it to me with 
other documents. 



How long since ? It must have been 
very soon after it was wiitun 1 believe. 

What time was that ? I really do not 
like to date i he letter. 

How many years ago ? It was while 
I lived in Gloucester-place. 

How long ago is it smce you lived in 
Gloucester place ? — Smce the year 1806. 

Did Dr O'Meara, upcm sending that 
letter to you, d'u-ect any use to be made 
of it ? Yes, to shew it to the Duke of 
York with the!* other papers. 

Was it about the time that the Duke 
of York went to lord Chesterfield's 
chii-iti ; i ig that Dr. 0'Mearag:-ve it to 
you ? No, I believe it was some time 
previous to that. 

How long previous ? — I cannot say. 

It was previous to that ? He gave me 
documents, but I am not sure that was 
among them ; but 1 am certain that I re- 
ceived it from his own hands. 

[The witness was directed to with- 
draw. 

[The following papers were read : Letter 
from Mr. Maltby, dated . — 

July 28th — Saturday evening. — Friday 
afternoon. — May 20th. — Wednesday 
afternoon, December 7th. — Thursday, 
.5 in the afternooit — A paper begin- 
ning " The Receipts to be taken," &c. 
— Receipts in pencil, beginning '* Re- 
ceived of Mr. Blake," &c. — Letter 
from Mr. Barber. — Another form of 
receipt — Agreement, beginning "*I 
William Barber," &c. — A note from 
colonel M'Mahon to Mrs. Clarke, 
dated Monday morning. — A letter 
from the same, dated Wednesday 
morning ; and from the same, dated 
Tuesday morning. — Letter from his 
Royal Highness the Duke of York to 
Mrs Clarke, dated August the 4th, 
1805.— -Letter from his Royal High- 
ness the Duke of York to Mrs. Clarke 
dated August 24th, 1804. 

" Dear Madam, Friday Morn. 

" The regiment for Mr. Williams 
is going to India ; this is lucky : there- 
fore, let him immediately provide the 
needful, and I will arrange in 'Vihat way 
it is to be deposited. Have you, writ- 
ten to him, as no time is to be lost. 

" As to the 2d battal. is the gentle- 
man here and prepared ? 

" Your's truly, 

" R. Mr 
" Pray give me a line in ans," 



209 



" Dear Madam, 
" Tf you can bv any means forward 
the adjustment of Mr. Manner's account 
as to his claims respecting' the 26th 
regt. whilst in Eg-ypt, of which the late 
general M;uniers was the colonel, 
You will much oblige, 
Dear madam, 
Your's trulv, 
July 28th. R. Maltby." 

" I don't know your true address. I 
called in Holies street a few days ago, 
and found you were gone." 

" Saturday Ev. 
" My dear madam, 

" I thank yf)u very much for your 
kind attention — you would be quite a 
treasure ?« every way to any secretary of 
state. 

" I am as anxious as you can be, that 
there may be no disappointment in the 
comssp ; and I am goading the parties 
evei-y day. 

" You say nothing of the P— ship 
2d batn. ; is the party readr ? 

" When do you leave B place ? 

" 1 am, dear madam, 
Your's truly, 

H. M." 

*' Dear madam, 

" If 1 have not the letter of recom- 
mendation immediately, and the money 
ready, I fear it will be lost. I under- 
stand the regiment is very respectable, 
but I do not know the county yet. 
" Remember the paymastership. 
Your's truly, 
" Friday aftern. R. Mr 

*' Dear madam, " May 20th. 

" Mr. M. is not, I believe, in this 
covmtry, but far distant ; so it will not 
answer to send your letter. Shall I 
inquire for the object you mention ? — 
What rani, and w/zaf shall I propose for 
it? 

" Do you know any one who wishes, 
on certain terms, a paymastership in the 
E. Indies ? 

*' I will inquire about the other mat- 
ters. 

•' Your's truly, 

R. M." 

" Dear madam, 

" I shall ascertain to-morrow every 
thing respecting the P. ship. 



" Will any person you know like a 
place in the bank, about lOUl. per an. ! 

" I believe another P. ship of a first, 
and one of a 2d battal. may be had, and 
militia adj utancie s . 

" Dear madam, 
Your's truly, 
" Wedn. aft. R. M." 

Dec. 7. 

" Dear madam, Thursday, 5 aft. 

" I have been in search of Mr. Bar- 
ber, both in Bream's-buildings and the 
city, without success ; I shall see him 
to-morrow at eleven, and I am satisfied 
I sliall arrange with him (I hope as he 
wishes.) 

*' In the Tnean time, as it is certain 
Mr. Williams may have what he wisiies, 
I beg you will be so good as to send to 
Mr Browne instantly to call on me, as it 
cannot be kept longer than a day open ,• 
and I think I can satisfy Mr.B. that there 
will be no disappointmerit. Pray send to 
him directly. 

" Your's very tridy, 

R. m:' 

" The receipts to be taken in the short 
form, as it is likely Coutts & Co. will not 
like to sign sucli a special receipt as that 
written by M. B. 

" 6301. to be deposited at Messrs. 
Coutts & Co. in names of 
L. &B. 
& 1571. 10s. at Messrs. Birch & Co, 
in the names of 

Blake and Wm. 

Barber — 
& to take a similar receipt." 
" It is a6*o/«*e()' necessary to make the 
deposit to morrow, Friday (if not al- 
ready dove, J as the appointment other- 
wise will probablyyfli/." 

Addressed : 
" Mrs. Clarke, 

Tavistock-place, 
14. Russel-square. 

fThe three following papers are luritten 
in pencil. J 

" Forms of Receipt." 
" Received Sept. 1808, of M. 

Blake and the sum of tliree 

hundred and sixty-seven poiuids ten 
shillings, to be repaid by us to the bear- 
er of this receipt, upon producing the 
same indorsed by the said M. Blake and 
(Signed) Birch & Co." 



21» 



y I do hereby apree lo indorse a cer- 
Itin renipl, dulcd S>. |)t. 1!S08, 

foi-;>6ri. lUs. i-tT,i-ivi<l of M. Hi;ikc ;iiul 
in\st'ir, by MoHsis. UmcIi, Clunubcrs, 
•lul Co. immediately on ibe appoinl- 
nient of as i\ 

cleik on the cstublialnnent in tlie wur- 
oftice. 

" WitnoH.s mv hand, this d:iy of 

Sipt. 180H.' 

" N. U. A siniihtr engiigomcnt lo be 
•igncd us to 531. 10s." 

*• Received Scjjt. 1808, of 

&. H.Midtby, thi- sum of iifiy 
two pouiulH Un sluirnij>s, lo \k repaid 
by ii.s lo the bemvr of ilns rceoi|)t, upon 
producing^ Uie same indorsed !>y the 
■«'tl and H. 

Multbv. 

(Signed) '« lihch & Co.*' 

*' Deal- Madam, 

*' It is inip()ssil)le for me to pay the 
cash in this <hu, or evrn lo-ioovrow, as 
it IS in ihe bank. Underslniulin);- from 
you that ii would not be vvantid for a 
ibrtnij^ht, 1 hope tlu- biisimss will not 
be slopped for llie want of iliis, for you 
may rest assured, honour is tiie ordirof 
the day in ibis transaelion, and L will 
come up direeily and supply the cash. 
1 have made a little alteration in the 
blank receipt and ap-eement you sent 
me, but whuh I ilan- say will not be 
objected lo by Lloyd J^t Co. 

•' Your's very ol»v. 
•« Tuesday. /I'm. Barber." 



** Reed. Sept. 1808, of 

Lloul, Es(]. and 
William Barber, tlie sum of 

to be repaiil by us to the bearer of 
this receipt, upon jji-oducing live same 
indorseil bj the saiil 
Lloyd and Win Uarber, or by the sai.l 
Wio. Barber oi\ly, m ease sueh receipt, 
■wit h the said joint indorsement thereon, 
shall not be prtulueed to us within two 
moiitlis frt)in the (late heivof. 

(Signed) "CaumO'Co" 



" Agreement. 

♦' I \Vm Barber do hereby agree to 
indiu-se a eerlain receipt, dated 
Sept. 1806, for received 



of John Lloyd, Esq. and myself, by 

Messrs. Coutts &. Co. imnieduilel) on 
the appointment of J, K. Lodwick, Esq. 
lo the place of as.sislanl eommissiiiy, 
ajipearing in the London Ga/ette, pro- 
vided such appoiiiinient lakes place 
within twomoiuiis from the dale lierewf. 
And 1 Ihe aaul John Lloyd, do hereby 
agree, thai in ease ihe above-mentioned 
appointment shall noi appear in the Lon- 
don Ca/elie witlun the time above-men- 
tioned, tiien that I the said J. Lloyd 
will nulorse over such receipt lo the said 
Wm. Uarber, lo enable hini to receive 
such above mentioned siiin from Messrs. 
Coutts and Co. so deposited in their 
hands. 

" Lloyd:' 



" Monday morn. 
" Colonel M'Mahon presents his best 
compliments lo Mrs. Clarke, and had 
only yesterilay the pleasure lo receive 
her note of 'rhursday last, tiir although 
he has return'd lo town for the season 
as his luad-tpiaiters, he makes two op 
three da\s excursions from it as often 
as he can, and it was iluring one of 
those that Mrs. Clarke's note arrived, 
otherwise it shouhl not have so long 
remain'd unanswerM. Col. M. will 
take the first for«noon he I)t>ssibh can to 
wait on Mrs. Clarke in the course of 
Ihis week." 

Adtli-esscd : 
" Mrs. Clarke, 

*' l-i, lledford place, 
" liloomsbviry." 

•' (Private.) Wedne.stl:iy morn. 

" I should be most ha|)py to bring 
about )our wishes, and render you any 
service with the D. of Y. but I iiave not 
been able to see him since 1 had the 
jdeasure of seeing you, and I understand 
he goes to Wiiulsor to-day, and stays 
till Friday, when 1 will try all in my 
power to seek an audience on your busi- 
ness, but am obliged to go (ml of town 
myself untilthat day. A thousand thankss 
for the loan of ymir seal, from which I 
have h.id an impression taken, in remem- 
brance of \ our sprightly device. 
'* Ever vour's, 

y. M." 

" Mrs. Farquhar, 

14, Uedtl>rd-]>lace, 

lluBsel-s»iuare." 



211 



•* Nothing', Mrs. Clarke may be as- 
su'X'd, bill iiHiispositioM, and vvuntinf^ in 
tlic plcasuio of liaving' any thinjjf sue- 
cessfiil to report, could iiave so lonp 
prevented my callintj on or sending to 
her. 

*' In wliatevcr communication may 
have been made to Mrs. Clarke's law- 
yer, I am indifi^nant that such terms as, 
•cither deceiving or lauj^iiinp at you,' 
should form a part of it, liavinp^ refer- 
ence to me ; for wliile I lament my to- 
tal inability to serve Mrs. Clarke, I am 
ready (o confess tluit in tiic few inier- 
views I iiad tlie honour to hold with her 
her conduct and conversation demanded 
nothing- but my respect, and the good 
wishes I bear her. 

"y. m:* 

** Tuesday mornuig-.** 



" August 4, 1805 " 

" How can I sufficiently express to 
my sweetest, my darling love, the de- 
light which her dear, ber pretty letter 
gave me, or how much I feel all the kind 
things she says to mc in it ? Millions 
am) millions of thanks for it my angel ! 
and 1)0 assured that my heart is fully 
sensible of yoiu" affection, and that upon 
it alone its whole b:ip[)iness depends. 

" I am, howeer (|uite hurt that my 
love did not go to tbe Lewes Races ; 
how kiiul of ber to think of me upon tbe 
occasion ! bui I trust that she knows 
me too well not to be convinced that I 
caimot bear thi; idea of adding to those 
sacrifices which I am but too sensible 
that she has made to mc. 

** News, my angel cannot expect from 
me from hence ; tiiougli tbe life led 
here, at least in the I'umiiy 1 am in, is 
very hurrying, there is a sameness in it 
which afH)ids little subject lor a letter ; 
except lord Chesterfield's family, there 
is not a single person except ourselves 
that I know. Last night we were at 
tbe play, which went oil' better than the 
first niglit. 

" Dr O'Meara c.'illed upon mc yester- 
day morning, and delivered mc your 
letter ; he wislies much to jireaoli be- 
fore royalty, and if I can put liini in the 
wjiv of it I will. 

•' What a time it ai)pcars to me al- 
ready, my darling, since we parted ; 
how impatiently 1 look forward lo next 
Wednesday se'nni|;'ht ! 

" God bless you, my own dear, dear 



love ! 'I shall miss the post if 1 add 
more ; Oh ! believe me ever, to my last 
hour your's and your's alone." 
Addressed : 
" Mrs. Clarke, 
" to be left at the Post-office, 
«« Worthing." 
Indorsed : 
'« Dr. O'Meara." 



" Sandgate, August 24, 1804. 

" How can 1 sufficicnily express to 
my thirling love my thanks for her viear, 
dear letter, or the delight wbicbtlie as- 
surances of her love give me ? Ob ! my 
angel ! do mc justice, and be convinc- 
ed that there never was a woman ador- 
ed as you arc. Every day, every hour 
convinces me more ami more, that my 
whole happiness de])euds upon you alone. 
What a time it appears to be since we 
parted, and with what impatience do I 
look forward to tbe day after to-morrow ; 
there are still however two whole nights 
before I shall clasp my darling in my 
arms ! 

" How happy am I to learn that you 
are better ; 1 still, howeVer, will not 
give up my hopes of the cause of your 
feeling uncomfortable. Clavcring is 
mistaken, my angel, in thinking that any 
new regiments are to be raised ; it is 
not intended, only secoiul battalions to 
the existing corps ; you had better, 
therefore, tell him so, and that you were 
sure that there would be no use in ap- 
plying for him. 

" Ten thousand thanks, my love, for 
the handkerchiefs, which are delight- 
liil ; and I need not, I trust, assure you 
of the pleasure I feel in wearing tlum, 
and thinking of the dear hands who 
made them for me. 

" Nothing could be more satisfactory 
than the tour 1 have m.ade, and the state 
in which I have found every thing. The 
whole of the clay before yesterday was 
cmplojed in visiting the works at Do- 
ver ; reviewing the troo])s there, and 
t;x;unining the coast as far as this ])lace. 
From Folkslone I bad a very good view 
of those of the French camp. 

*' Yesterday I first reviewed the 
camp lieie, and afterwards the 14th 
light dragoons, who are certainly in 
Very fine order ; and from thence pro- 
ceeded to Brabounii- Lt es, to see four 
regiments of militia, which, altogether, 
took me up near thirteen hours. I am 



213 



now setting ofi" immediately to ride 
along the coast to Hastings, reviewing 
the cliff'erent corps as I pass, wliich will 
take me at least as long. Adieu, there- 
fore, my sweetest, dearest love, till the 
day after tomorrow, and be assured that 
to my last hour I shall ever remain 
your's and your's alone. 

Addressed : 
" George Farquhar, Esq: 
'* No 18, Gloucester-place, 

" Portman-square." 
FOLKSTONE. 

Indorsed : 
" Gen. Clavcring, Sec," 

Mr. TIMOTHY DOCKERY was 

called in. 
Examined by the Committee. 

Do you know any thing of the trans- 
action relative to the jiurchase of a ser- 
vice of plate, sent to Gloucester place .' 
Yes. 

Relate what you know of that pur- 
chase : in tlie first place, what com- 
menced it, and liow it proceeded till the 
bargain was made conclusively ? Not 
being a partner in the house at the time 
the purchase was made, I know nothing 
at all of the circumstance. 

State in what character you were in 
tlie house at the time the purchase was 
made. — As a servant. 

What was your employment in the 
house? A journeyman. 

What was the particular business you 
transacted in that house ? The super- 
intendance partly of it. 

Do you recollect any p:u"ticulars re- 
specting the bargain about the plate, to 
voiirown knowledge ? — Nothing funher 
than what was mentioned by Mr. Bir- 
kett. 

Do you mean to state, that neither the 
Duke of York nor Mrs. Clarke did in 
your presence examine and treat about 
that plate ?— Certainly not. 

State what you heard the Duke of 
York and Mrs. Clarke say, when they 
were bargaining for tint plate — The 
bargain concerning that plate was not 
made in m_v presence. 

Then you do mean to state, that you 
never did hear any bargain about it ? — 
Certainly. 
fThe witness was directed to withdraw. 

[| The witness was again called in.} 
You have stated, that you wore the act- 
hig m:m iu the house of Birkitt ? Not 



duringthe time that the purchase of platd 
was made by Mrs. Clarke. 

What situation did you hold in the 
house '-r-That of journe\ man. 

Is it witiiin yovu* own knowledge that 
the plate was purchased from Messrs. 
Birkett ? — Certainly. 

Do you know the price that was agreed 
to be given for that plate ? — The books 
which have already been produced will 
shew that. 

Do you of your own knowledge kno\T 
the price that was to be paid for that 
plate- ? — By referring to the books. 

Do you of your own knowledge know 
the price that was to be paid for that 
plate, without referring to the books ? — 
Certainly not. 

Then you do not of your own knowl- 
edge know the sum that was to have 
been paid for that plate ? — By referring 
to the books I shall be able to judge. 

Then \ou do not of your own knowU 
edge know the sum that was to have 
been paid for that plate ? — I do not im- 
mediately recollect the specific sum that 
was paid for it, but if 1 may be allowed 
to look at the books I will state it. 

Do you know to whom that specific 
service of plate belonged, before it was 
sent to Gloucester-place ? — Yes, 

To whom did it belong ? — The Duke 
de Berri. 

Do you of your own knowledge know 
that any part of that plate was sent up 
to Gloucester-place, for the inspection of 
the Duke of York and Mrs. Clarke ? — 
Not to my recollection. 

Do you i-ecollect either the Duke of 
York or Mrs. Clarke being at Messrs. 
Birkett's. and examining the plate in 
their shop ? — No. 

Do you recollect anything withr gard 
to the payment for that plate ? — Yes. 

State what you do recollect wiih regard 
to the payment for it. — 5001. was paid at 
the time the plate was delivered, ;.nd 
the remainder was settled by bills at dif- 
ferent dates. 

State bv wliom the 500:. was paid in 
the first instance. — Tlie 5i;0i. was not 
paid tomysfU", but it vvaspaid. I believe, 
to M .B rki tt, as well as I can recollect. 

Do you know by whom it was paid ? 
I do not. 

Do you know how it was paid, whe- 
ther in cash, in bank notes, or how ? — 
In two notes, one of three, and the other 
of two hundred pounils. 

Do yov, recollect l\v whom those bill* 
were di'awn, by which tlte remainder 



2*3 



^as paid ? To the best of my recollec- 
tion, they were drawn by Mrs. Clarke. 

Upon wliom were they drawn I The 
Duke of York, 

Do yon of yonr own knowledge know 
that those bills were afterwards paid by 
the Dnke of York ? Certainly I do. 

Did you yourself offer those bills totlie 
Duke of York for payment ? I did. 

Did you see the Duke of York at the 
time you offered them ? Yes. 

'Do you recollect what conversation 
pas.se(i between the Duke of York and 
yourself, at the time vou offered those 
bills for payment ? No, I do not. 

Do you recollect tlie Dnke of York 
ever speakinjyto you at all respectingthe 
service of plate ? No, I do luH. 

How did the Duke of York Settle those 
bills ? By liisown drafts upon Coutts. 

Do you mean to state, that the whole 
amount due for tlie service of plate, over 
and above tlie 50Ul. wiiich you stated to 
have been before paid at the lime, was 
then paid by the Duke; of York upon 
those bills ? Certainly. 

Is there any body residing- at Mr. Bir- 
kett's th.at was in the situation you now 
hold, at tlie time the bai-jjain was made 
for the plate ? No. 

Do you know where the person is who 
held the situation which you now hokl, 
and who was he ? The person wiio held 
that situation is dead. 

What was his name ? ThomasWalker. 
[Mr.i-'aikerproducedMr.Birkett'sbookj 

and the account j^iven in on the 9tli 

instant was shewn to the witness. 

CTo Mr Dockery.J Refer to that ac- 
oount,and state whether it is the account 
to which you have alluded. Certainly. 

Are those the notes, to the best of 
your knowled|;'e, for which you received 
payment fiotn his Koyal Hij^hiiess the 
Duke of York ? The notes that arc en- 
tered here were the notes received of hia 
Royal Highness the Duke of York. 

On account of that plate ? Yes. 

State the amount of the whole. — 
1,8211. Us. 4d. that includes the 5001. 
f The witness was directed lo withdraw. 

Mrs. ALICE HOVliNDEN was 

called in. 

Examined by the committee. 

Do you know Mrs. Clarke ] Yes. 

Do you know colonel Shaw .' I never 

aaw him but once. 

State what passed at that interview. 
I had been some time negotiating with 
JVRrs. Oarke i"or an exshaingw i«r maj»p 



Shaw, and he !)egged to know the pvifri 
cipal ; I said it was Mrs Clarke, aiull 
particularly requested that he would not 
mention to Mrs. Clarke that Mr. Don- 
ovan knew any thing of the matter. 

Relate what |)assed at that only intei*- 
vicw you had with colonel Shaw. That 
was all that passed, except giving him 
a card or a note, 1 forget which, to Mrs. 
Clarke, merely saying that was miijoc 
Shaw. 

What was your reason for wishing 
Mr. Donovan's name to be kept a se- 
cret ? Mrs. Clarke said she was afiaul 
that Mr. Donovan would mention to the 
Duke of York any thing of the business, 
which would be her ruin. 

When was it that Mrs. Clarke express- 
ed that fear to you i-especting your tell- 
ing major Shaw of Mr. Donovan ? The 
first day I ever saw her. 

Tliis was before you mentioned Col. 
Shaw to jVIrs Clarke ? Yes. 

Did you ever mention colonel Shaw^ 
to Mrs. Clarke till after the interview 
you had willi colonel Shaw ? I saw Col. 
Shaw but once, and never saw Mrs. 
Clarke but twice since. 

Did you ever mention colonel Shaw 
to Mrs. Clarke till after the interview^ 
you had with colonel Shaw ? 1 had 
mentioned polonel Shaw to Mrs. Clarke 
a long time before I saw colonel Shaw, 
nearly three months. 

In what .way had you mentioned Col. 
Shaw to Mrs. Clarke ! As a gentleman 
who wanted a lieutenant colonelcy from 
his majority ; he was a major, and 
he wanted to get a lieutenant colonel- 
cy. 

How did you know that colonel Shav» 
wanted to get a lieutenant eolonelcy ? — p 
After I had seen Mrs. Clarke, I men- 
tioned to Mr. Donovan, a gentleman I 
had known for many ycar^j, that I liad 
got some very great interest, and thab 
if he knew an) person that wanted any 
thing in the army line, I thought I could 
get it ; I refused to te.l him where it 
was, or from whom. 

Was it Mr. Donovan who mentioned 
colonel Shaw to you ? Yes. 

What did Mr. Donovan state to you 
of Col. Shaw, when he mentioned hirrt 
to you \ He said that he had very great' 
recommendations, and had, I think it 
was, general Buyard's interest. 

What further did Mr. Donovan say of 
Col. Shaw to you ? He saUi he would 
give 7001. I think it was 7091. for a KeU- 
Venant c^Wncloy. 



•214 



Oul Mr. Donovftn tell you any thing 
further respect iiig Col. Shaw I Not at 
that tiiuc. 

Whore did tliis conversation pass you 
have now allnded'io ? I tliink ii was in 
Charles street. 

Ill consequence of this, tlid you apply 
to Mrs. Clarke to «>;ot major Sliaw a lieu- 
tenant colonelcy ? Yes. 

Weiv you to have had any pwt of that 
sum ot inoney whicli you have mention- 
ed, provided the lieutenant colonelcy 
was nhtainetl ? No. 

AVIiat w.ts done in consequence of 
your application to Mrs.. Clarke ? No- 
things at all. 

Did tlu> business break off, or did it 
die away > On the niplit of the day on 
wliicii I sent the note to Mrs. Clarke, I 
received a note from her, inclosinsi^ me 
major Shaw's security for the siuii, say- 
inp she was sorry she could do nothing 
for uMijor Shaw ; i^revious to tliis, Mrs. 
Clarki- sent for u\e todesevibe tlie jjerson 
of major .Shaw, his connexious. and liis 
interest, without which, she said she 
could not mention the atVair to his Royal 
Hlj^'liucss ; 1 could not then describe his 
person ; 1 said his interest was general 
BiUTard's. and lie liad lately met with 
some ^•ery prcat family nusforttme ; I be- 
lie\e liis hroihor drowned, or something 
of that kiiul. Mrs. Clarke answered, 
that will do, I shall tell his Royal High- 
ness that 1 do it in compliance with the 
fcquesl of a very old friend, and in com- 
passion for his present calamity ; let him 
get t wo months leave of absence through 
some K-ener;U ottirer, tliu-ing v^-hich peri- 
<hI I shall try and work upon the feel- 
ings of his Royal Highness, to accom- 
plish my purpiise, without his suspecting 
the cause. 

It was after this you sought an inter- 
view with colonel Shaw ' Yes. 

For what purpose di<l yoti seek that 
interview ? It was Col. Shuw sought 
it 

Did you tlien relate to colonel Shaw 
what had ]>a.>;sed between you and Mrs. 
Clarke ? 1 do not think Idid 

Was the matter broken otl" by any par- 
ticular eivcumstance, or did it die away J 
I knv>w no circumstance, except a note 
which Mrs. Clarke sent me. 

Do you recollect your ever speaking 
of Col. Sluiw as having broken his word 
vnh you ? He certainly broke Ins word 
with regard to telling \Ir8. Cla "ke Mr. 
Doiu)\an knew the circumstatice. 

©id you ever complain of his having 



broken his word, iu not luaving made 
you a present ' Never, because l\e did. 

What jiresent did colonel Shaw make 
you ? When I rettu-ncd colonel Shaw 
his papers and the security, he sent liis 
compliments, and was sorry for tlie trou- 
ble he had given me, and enclosed me 101. 

Do you know .any thing of a second 
application of colonel Shaw's to Mrs. 
Clarke ? I certainly do not. 

Do you recollectthe date ofthetrsms- 
.iction which you iiavc been speaking of ? 
Tiie first time 1 ever saw Mrs. Clarke 
was in December 1804. 

Had you ever more than one conver- 
sation with Mr. Donovan upon this sub- 
ject ? 1 c.innot rccoTiect ; I h.ive been in 
the habit of visiting Mr. Donovan and 
seeing him frequently, and what conver- 
sation bus passed lam sure Ic.-mnotsay. 

State the date of the transaction you 
are speaking of It was, I think, fi-om 
December 1804 to April 1805, as near 
as I can guess. 

Do you of your own knowledge know 
any thing further of colonel Shaw and 
Mr. Donovan in that trtmsaction ? I do 
not. 

Were wu In tlic habit of corres- 
ponding with colonel Shaw I 1 tlunk I 
mtist have written letters to Iiim fre- 
quently ; it was a long jieriod, and he 
was vci'v uneitsy, he wsis kept in great 
suspense. 

Stale whether you have any of colonel 
Shaw's letters. I retui'ned tlxe whole of 
colonel Shaw's letters. 

To whom ? To the best of my knowl- 
edge, through Mr. Donovan. 

At what period did you return those 
letters ? I believe it was two or tliree 
days after he had seen Mrs. Clarke. 

How came you to return tJiose letters 
to Mr. Donovan ? He said?Sliat major 
Shaw wished to have done entirely with 
the biisiitess, as he was convinced Mrs. 
Clarke could tlo nothing. 

Then you do not know any thing fur- 
ther respecting the transaction which 
t(>ok place afterwards between Mrs. 
Clarke and colonel Shaw ? I do not. 

Do you know personally, or by repute, 
a Miss I'aylor, who appeared as an evi- 
dence at the bar of this hoxise .' I have 
seen MissTaylor, she came to my house 
one dav with her brother, captain Tay- 
lor. 

What do you know of the ch.ir.actcr 
or repute of Miss Taylor ? It is very 
hartl to s;)e.ikfi\uu hearsay ; of ll»y own 
kjwwicdge 1 know nothing. 



I 



QIS 



"From what passed in the transaction 
between yoiiiself and Mrs. Chirke, do 
you believe that there could hiive been 
any subsequent negotiation be ween Mrs. 
Clarke and colonel Shaw ? — I do not 
think Mrs. Clarke ever heard of major 
Shaw afterwards. 
£TIk; witness was directed to withdraw. 

[The witness was aj^ain called in.] 

Did you ever tell any person, and if so 
when, that Miss I'aylor was ,i person of 
Lad repute .' — 1 certainly did say, that 1 
did not return Miss Taylor's visit, as I 
had heard somelhinj'' Unpleasant. 

What was the unpleasant circum- 
stance that you had heard ofMss^ Taylor, 
that prevented your returnmj^ that visit ? 
It was hearsay ; and I should suppose I 
am not obliged to tell what I have heard, 
I know nothing myself. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw, 

[The witness was again called in] 

From your knowledge of Miss Tay- 
Tor, would you believe her evidence ! 
[|The witness was directed to withdraw. 

[The witness was again called in. and 
the question proposed.] 

I dechire 1 do not see how I can answer 
such a question as that ; it is merel\ mat- 
ter of opinion, I cannot answer it. 

Where do you live ? In Villicrs street, 
No. 29. 

How long have you lived there I — I 
believe not quite three months. 

Where have you generally lived ? — 
Where I lived before, that was in South 
Moltonstreet. 

How long have you lived in South 
Molton-street ? — Up<m my word I can- 
not recollect. 

Cannot you recollect how long you 
have lived in a street ? — I went to it at 
two different periods. 

How long have you generally lived in 
an\ one street ? — I had a house in Pan- 
ton-sqi a e. 

How long ? — Two years and a half. 

When did you leave it ?--In 1805, I 
believe in June. 

Did you live there when you visited 
Mrs.Clarke?-l never visited Mrs. Clarke. 

Did she visit you when you lived 
there ! — No. 

Where, then, did you see Mrs. Clarke ? 
— l.went to Mrs. Clarke on business 

ilave you before stated all the busi- 
ness that you went to her upon ? — No. 

Then state what other business — Par- 
don me : what other business 1 had with 
Mrs. Clarke was for commissions for 
ether gentlcmaai, whose names have not 



been mentioned, for whom she never diU 
any thing. 

[The witness was directed to withdraw, 
f'i'he witness was again called in.] 
Did you ever send the names of those 
other gentlemen to Mrs. Llaike,or com- 
municate them ; — 1 never sent them to 
her ; I took them to h«r. 

You delivered them into licr own 
hands I — Yes. 

Then state the names of all those gen- 
tlemen ; how many were there ? I do 
not really recollect that. - 

State their names. — I said before I 
coidd not do that. 

Endeavour to recollect, and state tluir 
names. — It is not want of mem'i'\, or 
want of respect to the House, but lean- 
not name them. 

1^1 he Chairman informed the witness, 
that It was tho sense of the committee, 
after discussion that she should enu- 
merate the nanie.s of the persons to 
whom she had referred. 
I cannot mention their names. 

You have slated, that it was not for 
want of memory, therefore endeavour to 
recollect as many of the nanus as voU 
can.— It is because 1 think it would be: a 
Very dishonourable act in me to discover 
the name of gentlemen who have never 
been brought forward, and never profit- 
ed by any one ad I did. 
['I'lic Chairman stated to the witness, 
• that the House was armed with pov^er 
to compel lur to answer, and (o inliict 
a very severe censure upon her if she 
did not answer the (juestions, whi<h it 
wa.s tile opinion of the House shotilJ 
be answered. 

H.id yoij authority from those persons 
to whom you referred, to give ti.eir 
names to Mrs. Clarke ! — I cannot recol- 
lect that, I declare. 

Did you ever carry the names of any 
persons to Mrs. Clarke without their 
authority ! — 1 do not know whether I 
did not , I am sure. 

State positively wli ether you did or 
did not. — Indeed my memory does not 
help me out. 

Slate the names. — I cannot, 
f The witness w;,s du-ecled to withdraw. 
[The witness was again called in, and 
informed by the chairman, that it was 
the opinion of the committee that she 
must answer the quest'ons put to her, 
and that the House hail power to in- 
flict very heavy punishments, and nev- 
er more SI verely exerted that po\\er, 
thtm in the case c-'" witngssea who con- 



.316 



4ucte(l themselves in the contumel- 
ious manner she had done. 

State the names of the persons you 
carried to Mrs. Clarke ? — 1 did not mean 
it the smallest contempt to the House, 
quite the reverse ; and to convince you 
that 1 feel a respect for this House, and 
not from fear, 1 will state the n;imes ; 
one is Johnson, and another is William- 
son. 

Arc there any other names ? — I do not 
^lecoUect. 

Endeavour to i-ecollcct. — I cannot. 

You said there was several names, or 
a long' list of names ? I do not thmk 1 
said that, I said there were some. 

Did you never deliver the names of 
any i>thcr gentlemen but Johnson and 
Williamson ? — I do not recollect any oth- 
er ; I think I had others ; but I do not 
recollect their names. 

You did deliver others ? I recollect 
those because they are my own acquaint- 
ances. 

What are their christian names ?— - 
They are George Johnson, and William 
Wilhamson. 

Wliere io they live ? I cannot tell 
you that ; it is now three years ago. , 

Where did they live then ? Upon my 
•word I do not know where their lodg- 
ings wi re. 

You were said that they were acqtiaint- 
ances of yours ? I am sure I cannot tell 
where they lived ; I did not ask the 
gentlemen their residence. 

You stated tliey wei'e acquaintances ? 
Yes. 

Do yon now state that you did not 
Ivuow where your acquaintances \\\ed ? 
— Tliey had not long arrived from Ire- 
land, 

Were they in the army ? They never 
were, nor to my knowledge have not 
been in it yet : they were three months 
trying to got in, through Mrs. Clarke, 
and could not. 

Did you deliver any other list to Mrs. 
Clarke but those two names ? I never 
delivered a list to Mrs. Clarke. 

Did yon ever deliver any other name 
tp Mrs. Chirke ? I cannot recollect any 
other name 1 delivered. 

Are you a marriea woman ? I am a 
widow. 

Hnw long have you been a widow ? 
Nearly six years. 

How long did yon live in South Mol- 
ton street ? At two dittcrent periods,! 
.suppose about a year and a half, but not 
ivltogeUier, 



Were you in a house, or In lodgings 1 
I was in lodgings. 

Did you ever apply to Mrs. Clarke to 
procure leave of absence for any officers i 
I never did to my recollection. 

Not for major Shaw ? She told me 
she could not get leave of absence for 
him ; I was to tell him to get it through 
general Burrard. 

Then did you apply for m.ijor Shaw ? 
I sent word to major Shaw that he must 
get two months leave of absence. 

Did you apply to Mrs. Clarke to pro- 
cure that leave of absence ? I did not ; 
she applied to me to beg major Shaw 
wouldget two months leave of absence, 
that during that time she might have 
time to work on the good nature of the 
Duke of York, for fear he might suspect 
there was any thing improper in the 
transaction. 

What answer did Mrs. Clarke give 
yOu, when you carried those two names 
you have stated to the committtee you 
carried to Mrs. Clarke ? She said she 
would try, but must be very careful to 
have time, for fear there might ht the 
smallest suspicion that it was a money 
transaction, as that would ruin her 

Didshe express any desire that it should 
be particularly concealed from the Duke 
of York ? She certainly did. 

You live in Villiers-su'eet,doyounot?- 
Yes. 

Are you in a house there, or in lodg- 
ings ? In lodgings. 

What is the name of the person t9 
whom the house belongs ? Adair. 

Are there any other lodgers in the house 
besides yourself ?- I believe there are. 

Is the Adair who keeps the house a 
man or woman ? A woman. 

How lonp- have you known Mr. Dono- 
van ? Eighteen years, I believe. 

When did you last sec Mr. Donovan ? 
This moment. 

When did you last see him before you 
came to this House ? Yfesterday. 

Arc you in the habit of seeing hira 
pretty const.nntly ' Constantly. 

Have you any knowledge of any trans- 
actioAin which Mr. Donovan isengagcd? 
None but that in which 1 was concerned 
myself, namely, major Shaw's. 

Is that the only one of transactions -^of 
th.at nature of which you have any knSCC-- 
ledge ? I do not recollect any other 
whatever. 

Had Mr. Donovan any concern in that 
list of names which you state yourself t* 
have given to M^-s. Clwke 2 No.. 



Sir 



Did Mr. Donovan at that time carry 
on any traffic of the same sort ? ) know 
nothing about any iliing Mr. Donovan 
does, only what concerned myself. 

When you went lo Mrs. Clarke, was 
it of your own accord, or were you sent 
by Mr. Donovan ? I went of my own 
accord, without any introduction wliat- 
ever, and Mr. Donovan never knew that 
I knew Mrs. Clarke till three months 
afterwards, and till the business of ma- 
jor Shaw was finished. 

When was that ?— In April, 1805, 1 
think; I cainiot be very certain as to the 
month, but I think it was April. 

Was Mr. Donovan acquainted with 
Mrs. Clarke ? — Not to m} knowledge, 
and I believe not. 

Were you often at Mrs. Clarke's in 
Gloticestcr-place ? — I cannot say how 
often. 

Were you in the habit of going there 
frequently ? — No, not very frequently. 

How often do you suppose you have 
been there ? — Latterly, raajor Shaw got 
very impatient, and 1 went five o^ six 
times, 1 think, in the last month. 

Did you ever go there on any business 
but that of major Sliaw's ? — I stated be- 
fore that I went on other business, and 
I have stated the business. 

Any other business besides that of 
major Shaw, and that of Johnson and 
Williamson ? — I do not recollect the oth- 
er names. 

Did you ever go upon any other busi- 
ness but those two occasions ! — No, 1 do 
not recollect ;.ny other. 

I understand you to state, these names 
of Johnson and Williamson were given 
up to Mrs. Clarke, at the time, with a 
great number of others ! — I have not 
said a great number. 

Witl) othernames ; were this affair of 
major Shaw's, and fiiat in which John- 
son and Williamson were concerned, 
the only occasions on which you went to 
Mrs. Clarke's ! — I never went to Mrs. 
Clarke's on any other business but that, 
till major Shaw's business was finished, 
and the papers returned. 

Were you well acquainted with the 
hou.se Mrs. Clarke inhabited in Glouces- 
ter-place ? — Certainly not. 

Into what room did you use to go ? — 
Her bed-room. 

Were you ever in any other room ? — 
Yes, the front parlour and the drawing- 
room, and tlie bed-room. 

There was very handsome furniture 
in tliat house I — Vcrv, 



Very magnificent ?— It was very gen- 
teelly furnished. 

You have seen all those rooms, and 
have only been there two or three times; 
do you adhere lo that statement I — 1 re- 
collect stating, that I was there six time* 
within the last month. 

How long have you been acquainted 
with Mrs. Clarke ? — December 1804, I 
think. 

The beginning of your acquaintance 
was in 1804 ?— Yes. 

On the occasion of Mr. Shaw ? — I 
went before I went on the business of 
Mr. Shaw ; I went without any intro- 
duction whatever. 

On what business did you go ! — I was 
told she had commissions to dispose of, 
and without any introduction 1 went to 
her, and asked her. 

Why was your being told she had com- 
missions to dispose of the reason of your 
going there ; did you "vish to procure 
conmiissions ? — I did ; t that time. 

For whom ? — I do nuJ.. that I had 
any particular pers(m in view at that 
time. 

You were in the habit of procuring 
commissions ? — No, I was not in the 
habit ; that was the first time I went. 

Then you did go to Mrs. Clarke upon 
this business of procviring commissions, 
besides the times you went about major 
Shaw and Johnson and Williamson ? — ■ 
The first time 1 went to Mrs. Clarke I 
told her I came to know if glie had any 
commissions to dispose of. 

Was that mere curiosity in you .' — No, 
it was not. 

What, then, was Jour motive for mak- 
ing that inquiry ? — At that period I had 
met with a very heavy misfortune ; my 
agent in the West Indies died, and a 
house in London broke, and I was very 
much embarrassed 

Wiiat mode did you adopt to ease 
your embarrassments ? — I had hojua 
that would, Ididnot conceive itimproper. 

You sold commissions ? — I never sold 
one. 

You negotiated the' sale of them ? — I 
treated, but it did not succeed. 

Were all the communications you had 
with Mrs. Clarke verbal ; did you ever 
correspond with her ! — I often wrote to 
her. 

You had frequently letters from Mrs. 
Clarke ?- -I had. 

What was the latest period you evev- 
received letters from Mrs Clarka ? — I 
made It a rule, whenever I received a lei- 



21« 



t<Sr from Mrs. Clarke, the next time I 
saw her to return her her letters. 

What is the latest period at wliich you 
Mceived letters from Mrs. Clarke ? — I 
believe that one in which she enclosed 
me major Shaw's security ; I believe 
that was the last ; I do not recollect any 
other since. 

Have you never received any letter 
from Mrs. Clarke within these few 
months ! — No, I have not. 

And you never kept by you any of the 
letters you received from Mrs. Clarke ? 
I have not one of them. 

When ditf you part with them ? — I 
made it a rule whenever I went to see 
Mrs. Clarke, to bring- tlie letter I had 
received the day beibi-e, and to give them 
to her. 

Was that an invariable rule ? — To the 
best of my knowledge. 

You have stated in your evidence very 
lately, that you had been frequently in 
Mrs. Clarke's house in Glo\icester-place, 
and that you have seen her in her be<l- 
room, and drawinp-room, and several 
places in that house ; is tluit so ? — Yes. 

How do you reconcile that to the for- 
mer part oi your evidence, where you 
Slated that you had seen her onfy twice ? 
I never suid so. 

Yoti mentioned that you would not 
visit Miss Taylor, out of delicacy ; wliy 
did not that delicacy operate with ret^ard 
to Mi's. Clarke, wlioni you knew 4o be 
living- under the protection of the Duke 
of York ? — 1 stated before my reasyns for 
calling upon Mrs- Clarke. 

Did you CTcr, upon any occasion, re- 
ceive any authority nom Mrs. Cl.irkcto 
■negotiate the sale of commissions in the 
ai-my ? — Never. 

You ha\e stated, that you were inform- 
ed that Mrs. Clarke had commissions in 
the army to dispose of ; who so inform- 
ed you ! — General report. 

Endeavour to recollect some individu- 
al who might liave told you. I do not 
recollect any individual telling nie, I re- 
c "Ct asking a gentleman Mrs. Clarke's 
address. 

Wiio was that gentleman ?— Mr. Tay- 
lor ; he is married to a sister of Mrs. 
Clavke since that. 

What object had you in asking him 
tjiat question— Tiuit I might call on her. 

You have stateil that you were in the 
habit of returning to Mrs. Clarke all the 
letters yov| received from her : what rea- 
son had you for pursuing" tliat coneluct ? 
She begged I sliould do so. 



Did she state any reaaon which indue* 

ed you io do so ? — For fear any accident 
should discover her traffi<;kuij^ in com- 
missions. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

JOHN CLAUDIUS BERESFORD, 
Esquire, a member of the House, at« 
tending in his place, was examined as 
follows : 

Will you look at that letter, and state 
^yl^ether it is the hand writing of the 
Archbishop of Tuam ? — 1 have seen him 
write many times, and have no doubt it 
is his hand-writing. 

[A letter of the Archbishop of Tuam 
was read.] 

" In consequence of your application 
to me, I am ready to give ample satis- 
faction, and to bear testimony, that I 
have had assurances from persons in 
whom I |)lace the most implicit conti- 
dence, that you ^re a gentleman of most 
unexceptionable character in every re- 
spect, of a respectable family, and inde- 
pendent fortune. 

" I liave the honour to be. 

Sir, 
Your most obedient, 

humble servant, 
" Crescent, Bath, W. Tuam/' 

Feb. irth, 1806. 

Addressed : 
" Theo Rev. Doctor O'Me.ira, 
No. 7, Alfred street." 

Mrs. MARY ANN CLARKE was 

calleil in. 

Examined by the Committee. 

Did you know colonel Shaw ? — Yes. 

Do you recollect who introduced him 
to you ? — Not e.xactly. 

Do you recollect his applying to you 
to procure any apponttment for him 
through the medium of liis Royal High- 
ness the Duke of York ? — Yes, I do. 

State what that a])pointinent was. —He 
wished to be made a lieutenant colonel, 
and to get into some situation upon the 
staff. 

Did colonel Shaw promise you any 
pecuniary consideration on the event of 
his obtaining the appointment >. — Yes, he 
did. 

^Vhat wasthe pecuniary consideration 
he did promise you ? — I eaitnot say that 
I immediatelv recollect the sum, I bs- 
Ueve it was lOOW. 



219 



Did ymi, in consequence of this, ac- 
quaint the Conimimder in Chief with 
such oiler, and :ipi)ly for the apjioint- 
ment ? Yes, I did ; previous to liis get- 
ting' the siluation, he wislied to he col- 
onel of the Mcaux corps In the Isle of 
Man, where his father had been deputy 
governor. 

Do you mean to say that you applied 
for tiiis situation for him ? Yes, 1 did, 
but there were stronger claims in anoth- 
er quarter. 

Did yon then apply for any other sit- 
uation for him ? Yes, I did. 

What was that ? I'hat which he now 
holds. 

Do you know what that is ? Barrack- 
master at the Cape of Good Hope ; l>ar- 
rack -master-general, I helieve. 

Did you receive any pecuniary consid- 
eration in conseqiiencc of this appoint- 
ment ! Yes, I <lld. 

What did you receive ? 5001. 

iJo you recollect how you received 
that money ? I had 3001. from colonel 
Shaw, and 2001. brought by some man, 
I understood it was a clerk of Coutt's, 
but I :>ni not positive, and on that ac- 
count had a great mind to send it back 
again, thinking it would be made pub- 
lic. 

Were you satisfied with this 5001.? — 
No, I was not. 

In consequence of not being satisfied 
witli the 5001. did you make any com- 
plaint through the Commander in Chief? 
Yes, I did. 

What was the consequence of such 
complaint ? His Royal Highness said, 
he hail told me all along, that I had a 
very bad sort of man to deal with, and 
that 1 ought to have been more careful, 
and that he would immediately l)ut him 
upon half pay. 

Do you know whether major Shaw 
was put upon half pay in consequence of 
that ? He sent me several letters com- 
plaining, but I did not trouble myself 
much with reading them ; one of the 
letters I gave in to-night, I believe : I 
thought him already too well off, for his 
conduct to me. 

f Letter from Colonel Shaw was i-cad, 
dated in pencil, off tlie Lizard, 19tli, 
May, 1806. 

-" Off Lizard, and a fair Wind, 
" ly May. 
"Although I have troubled you so 
'»ftefi, ?.nd although my mind is nearlv 



convinced that the hardship of which I 
complained uas been rectified, by th« 
order of t/ic Gazette in respect to my re- 
duction being rescinded, jet whilst eveti 
the suspicion of so serious an evil, and 
indeed an injtistice continues, I know 
that you will make every allowance, and 
pardon my being so importunate. In 
addition to the custom of the army be- 
ing in my favour (as you mentioned,) 
the following uistances arc specifically 
so, an<l in the same appointment : Lt. 
Col. Cary, D. B. M. G. Major 28tl» 
Regt. Lt. Col. Vtsey, D. B. M. G Can- 
ada, Lt. Col. 29th Regt. the late Col. 
Brinsley, D. B. M. G. West Indies, re- 
tained also his full i)ay commission until 
his death ; and I believe I stand singular 
in the army, in an officer being appoint- 
ed to the stall abroad, and reduced on 
half p.iy in conse(iuence. '^rhus my case 
bears in point of right. Your feelings 
will justify my expectations in point of 
promise and assurances. The first im- 
pression of receiving injury at the liands 
from whence 1 had tru.sted tohave merit- 
ed the contrary, are the excuses I catt 
])lead for any intemperance th;^t mayliavc! 
;i])pearcd in my letters, you will, I am 
sensible, as my mind was at the f/we af- 
fected, readily pardon. The jjcriod 
may arrive in which you will know that, 
independent of particular consideration, 
I merited your good offices ,- but until, 
circumstances developo themselves, you 
you shall never understand them through 
me (U- by my means. However severely 
I have felt, however warmly I may have 
expressed myself, of this be assured, 
thai you shall not experience uneasiness 
of my occasionini;-. 'riioughthus diicid- 
cd at present, jc pi rmit mc to say, that 
it does not arise tioin viewing otherwise 
the severe and cruel injury of putting 
me on halfpay. Independent of present 
moriifieation, my prospects in the ac- 
tive line of my profession are ruined by 
it, and God knows they are not very 
biilliant, considering either the lengtli 
or the nature of my services. Further, 
Madam, in my j)resent sepanttian from 
tiiy chiidrcn, it creates in me sensations 
pai'ticularly jjainful, when I reflect, that 
if approaching that slate to which we 
must all at some [leriod arrived, that I 
ccnild not (by thin ineasure) Inive the 
consolation oi' resigning my commission 
6y sale for the benefit of my large fami- 
ly ; and that they should in this event 
U»ve MQ oUicr irtMincirto of my Imvirg 



220 



served 23 years, than in the expenses of 
the purchase, &c. &c. of some commis- 
sions. In such cases the humane con- 
siderations of the present commander 
in Chief have been eminently distin- 
guished* 

'• I shall no longer trespass ; my only 
apology rests in that every feeling is in- 
volved in the present object I had even 
appropriated my full pay for the education 
of two children remaining in England ; 
but illness has for some time d^^prived 
me of all my family. Let me, madam, 
owe good offices to you, and I shall be 
ever grateful. From your explaining 
this case, I am certain that his justice 
•will be extended to me. Let me not 
be driven from my profession. Do away 
the present bar to my family joining me 
at the the Cape ; for I am sure that your 
sentiments will accord, that I ought not 
to serve wlien no longer with honour 
and on a reciprocal footing with those 
similarly appointed. 

" We are not likely, I fear, to be a 
healthy fleet ; some ships are very 
crowded, and sickness lias already made 
its appearance ; and there are two ships, 
I hear, without either doctor or medi- 
cines. Farewell; and 1 hope to receive 
your commands. 

" Do away the present evil, and unite 
the appointments I mentioned, and I 
will annually remit 3001. Whilst I re- 
main, remembtr do int justice, let not 
any thing prevent this ; uUow not self 
er famdy have ever to say, that we owed 
misfortune to such a hand." 

Addressed : 

''Mrs. Clarke, 

" Gloucester -place, 
" 18. Portman-square." 

I, understood you to have mentioned 
•n a former night, that you never had 
represented yourself as being a widow; 
do you now abide by that answer ?- — 
Does the gentleman mean represented, 
or that I liave ever suid so ? 

Have you ever said that you were, or 
yepresented yourself to be a widow ] If 
I have ever said so, it was never but at 
the coiu't martial ; if it was ever at any 
other time, it must have been in joke : 
but I never represented myself to be so ; 
the two meanmgs are so different, of 
saying and representing. 

Dp you ever recollect yourself to have 
stated yourself a widow at any other 



time but on the occasion of the court-' 
martial ? I do not ; but if the gentleman 
will put me in mind at what time, or to 
whom, I will answer to the best of my 
recollection. ' , 

Do you ever recollect yourself to have 
stated yourself to be a widow at any oth- 
er time but on the occasion of the court- 
martial ? Then I must repeat the same 
answer. 

Have you ever called yourself by any 
other name than that of Clarke, since 
the year 1806 ? I do not recollect that 
I have ; but it is very likely, to avoid 
bailiffs. 

Is it so common a thing in you t» 
assume a false name, that you cannot 
positively say when you assumed such a 
name, or indeed whether you did so at 
all or not ? I only wish the gentleman 
to point out, and I will answer it imme- 
diately, any pointed question. 

Is it so common a thing in you to 
assume a false name, that you cannot 
positively say when you assumed such a 
name, or indeed whether you did so at 
all or not ? I do not recollect that I have 
done so. 

Do you recollect to have gone by the 
name of Dowler ? No, I do not ; but it 
is very likely others might call me so ; I 
never represented myself asMi'S.Dowler. 

Then you say positively, tliat you never 
called yourself by the name of Dowler, 
or represented yourself as bearing that 
name ? No, I have not, without it 
Hiight be in joke ; and if that is asked 
me, I will answer the question ; it must 
have been to some acquaintance, if to 
any body, as I have always lived under 
my o\yn name. 

Did you not, within the date alkided 
to, live at Hampstead, assuming to your- 
self the name of Dowler ? No, I lived 
at Hampstead, but under my own name. 

Nor in the neighbourhood of Hamp- 
stead ? No, never any where, but ia 
my own name. 

In Whose house have you lived at 
Hampstead ? Mr. Nichols'. 

How long did you live at Mr. Nich- 
ols' ? I cannot recollect how long. 

A considerable time ! Some montlis. 

During the whole of which you passed 
under your own name of Clarke ? Dur- 
ing the whole time. 

In wliat year did you live at Hamp-j 
stead ? Part of the year 1808, and the 
end of the year 1807. 

You have staled when you were last 



'321 



liert, that you had seen Mr Dowler but 
twice since his arr;vul in England; once 
on a Sunday, when he called relative to 
the business now luider inquiry, and 
ohcein the witnesses* room in this house ; 
do you abide by that assertion ? 1 will 
not be caught in a story about that, and 
therefore I shall say 1 did see him once 
besides. 

Do you mean to say that you were 
caught in a story, when you before rep- 
resented that you had seen him but 
twice ,' No ; it is now perhaps you w ish 
to catch mc in one. 

Did you not say that you had seen Mr. 
Dowler only twice ? It is very likely I 
might have said so. , 

Is that true or false ? — It is true that 
I have seen him twice, and it is also true 
th. I I have seen him three times. 

Where did you see Mr. Dowler the 
third time which you now allude to t In 
this hoTise. 

How often have you seen Mr. Dowler 
besides those three times, since his re- 
turn from Portugal ? Those three times ; 
Once since — yesterday. 

That is the whole number of times 
that you have seen Mr. Dowler since bis 
arrival in England ? I believe thai the 
honourable gentleman can tell pretty 
well, for his garret wmdow is very con- 
venient for his prying disposition, as 'i% 
overlooks my house. 

That is the wliole number of times 
that you have seen Mr. Dowlev since 
his arrival in England ? Yes. 
You are sure of that ? Yes. 
You are not now afraid of being caught 
in a story ; you ans wer with perfect recol- 
lection ? if the honourable gentleman 
wishes it, I will say I have seen him of- 
tener, if it will at aUtend to any thing ; I 
do not wish to conceal that Mr. Dowler 
is a very particular friend of mine. 
£The chairman informedthe witnessthat 
she did not stand there to make ob- 
servations on the gentlemen who exam- 
ined her, but to give correct and prop- 
er answers to tlie questions put to her. 
I have, as well as I recollect. 

At what other places than those you 
have already mentioned, and at what 
other timcSv have you seen Mr. Dowler 
since his arrival in England ? I have 
seen him at his own hotel. 

When .' The first night he came 
home, I believe, but which was to have 
been a perfect secret, as I did not wish 
my own family, or any one, to know I 
•"•aw him that night. 
29 



Only the first night he came home ^• 
And the other times 1 liuve stated. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

[The witness was again called in.] 

Are those the whole of the times you 
have seen Mr. Dowler since his arrival 
in England ? Yes, they are. 

You have stated you saw Mr DowleP 
at his hotel ; how often did you sec Mr. 
Dowler at his hotel ? I have told you, 
once. 

Only once .' Only once. 

What day was that ? I have already 
stated, it was the first day he came home. 

On Thursday? Yes, on Thursday. 

What time of the day did you see him 
at his hotel on the Thursday ? . At 
night. 

Did you pass under your own name, 
of Clarke, on that occasion ? I passed 
under no name. 

Do you now perfectly recollect that 
you saw him at his hotel since his arrival 
in England but on that one occasion, that 
Thnrsdav night i No, the other times X 
have st:.t>^ d. 

At what hotel did you see him ? At 
Reid's, in St. Martin's lane. 

Did you see him more than one time 
at that hotel ? No, I did not, I saw him 
at my own house afterwards. 

Were you in company with Mr. Dow- 
ler for a considerable time upon that oc- 
casion i I have stated that 1 was in 
compaiiy with Mr. Dowler ; and I beg 
leave to ask the chau', whether this is a 
proper question, whether it is not unbe- 
coming the dignity of the house ? 

Did you see Mr. Dowler on the Fri- 
day morning ? 

["The witness was directed towithdraw. 

[Tiie witness was again called in, and 

the question was proposed.] 

My visit continued till the Friday 
morning. 

Had you any credit with the Duke of 
York's bankers ? Which of them ? 

With either of them ? With neither. 

Did you ever draw any bills upon the 
Duke of Yoik, which he accepted ? No, 
it w:is given out at the Horse-guards, 
that I had committed a forgery upon thft 
Duke for 2000.. which I did not, and it 
followed me all over the country, and 
manv persons were very much inclined 
to believe it, as Mrs. Hamilton Pye, co- 
lonel Gordon's sister, said she knew it 
of her own knowledge. 

Did you ever draw any bills upon th« 
Duke of York, which he accepted ?— 
No, he sdwaya Ar^w them and accepted 



222 



^lliem himself; I never had any thing to 
do with them, he did the whole. 

Do you mean you never sent a bill, 
drawn upon the Duke of York, to Bir- 
kett's the silversmith's ? Once or twice 
hisRoyalHighnessgaveme small billsfor 
three or four hundred pounds, but they 
•were his own signing and drawing up ; it 
was to get my necklace, or something in 
that way, from Parker's in Fleet-street : 
but I never drew a bill,nor never touched 
any thing of the kind ; but I was always 
obliged to sign something else private to 
Parker, for he would not take his Royal 
Highness' bill without my doing so. 

Tlien \ou deny that you sent any bill 
drawn by the Duke of York or yourself 
upon the Duke of York to Birkett's the 
silversmith's ? — I never sent any to Bir- 
kett's. 

You have stated the number of horses 
and servants you kept, and that his Royal 
Highness allowed you only a thousand 
pounds a year ; I believe you remained 
under the protection of iheDuke of York 
for three years ; during that time did not 
bis Royal Highness pay you to the 
amount of 250001. in those three years ?-- 
O d( ar, no ! He very frequently did not 
make good his monthly payments, and 
for the three months before he left me I 
Hever had a gumea from him ; and al- 
though Mr. Adam has stated that his 
Royal Highness parted with me on ac- 
count of a bill, his Royal Highness never 
had the generosity to give me the money 
for that bill ; it was only 130). and I 
never had a guinea value for it ; 1 had 
given it to Mr. Corri, to save him from 
going to pi'ison. 

Do you not believe that his Royal 
Higlmess, during the three years you 
were under his protection, paid 20,0001. 
for you, including all the various sums 
that were advanced to you, the payment 
pf tradesmen's bills, &c.&c. duringthose 
three years ? No, he did not. 

Will you undertake to say that his 
Royal Highness did not pay 15,0001. for 
you during those three years ? Do you 
include his Royal Highness paying for 
the house before 1 went into it, or keep- 
ing me and the establishment ? 

Includingevery thing,aUthe advances 
that were made. 1 cannot tell what he 
paid for the house ; I can tell what my 
lawyer got Tor it. 

What was the amoiuit which you got 
for it ? I believe the whole sold for 
4,4001. ; and I think it is proper tor me to 
sjate io vflxAt aitVi^tioQ I wasj wkich l^is 



Royal Highness kneW, at the time of our 
parting : some short time before, 1 had 
borrowed different sums of money of my 
lawyer, to the amoimt of twelve or four- 
teen hundred pounds, and I asked the 
Duke for the lease,and he gave it to me, 
and I gave it up to the lawyer for the 
different sums of money received from 
liim before the house was got rid of 1- 
his Royal Highness had not paid the 
rent for the last half year, and 1 fancy the 
taxes for « twelvemonth were not paid ; 
I always paid the taxes : I took 7001. oi* 
account to pay the poor trades -people 
and the servants : 7001 was due to Mr. 
Parker for trinkets, which were got 
from him to be sold in the sale. 

Exclusive of tlie house, will you un- 
dertake to say you have not received to 
the amount of 15,0001. from his Royal 
Highness ? That I am very sure of. 

Can you undertake to say that posi- 
tively ? Positively. 

Will you undertake to say positively 
you did not receive 12,0001. from his 
RoyalHighness.includingeveryadvance, 
and articles paid for during those three 
years ? Yes. 

\Vjill you undertake to say positively 
his Royal Highness did not pay 10,0001. 
to and for you ' Yes, I can. His Royal 
Highness paid nothing for me but in 
gifts,except whathe was tohavebrouglxt 
me regularly ; whatever value it might 
have been, it was in trinkets and those 
thJngs,St was presents, not in money ; I 
cannot say what the amount of those 
might be ; they all went from me before 
I left Gloucester-place, which his Royal 
Highness must be aware of, that I had 
nothing even to take me out of town. 
He promised to give me 2001. for my 
journey, but Mr. Adam objected to that 
to my lawyer, and said 1001. was plenty ; 
but the Duke over-ruled it, and sent me 
two some time afterwards. 

Will you undertake to say that the 
whole amount of his Royal Highness* 
advances to you and for you did not 
amount to 50001. i No, I cannot say as 
to that. 

Do you mean to say, that, except the 
10001 a year, which was given ibr the' 
establishment, and which, was shortly 
paid, you were not paid any more money, 
and was it not to a very large amount i 
No. 

Were you paid no more money beside* 
the 10001. a year ? No, Iwasnol. I 
certainly complained to his Hoyal High- 
n^ss, and. h< sftid h^ would miike some 



226 



future arrangement. I convinced him 
thai it was not more than sufficient to 
pay the servants' wag'es and liveries. 

Then if I understand yoti right, you 
■say positively that you had no more to 
live upon in money than 10001. a year .' 
No, I should not say that ; I have been 
very much harrassed for any Uiing, and 
could not get it from other quarters, and 
there was nothing in view, his Roy- 
al Highness would then bring me 1001. 
extra, or two, perhaps, but I do not recol- 
lect even two ; I do one or so, one now 
and then, but not often. 

Then in point of fact, the Committee 
are to understand you did not receive any 
considerable sums of money to support 
your establishment, except the 10001. a 
year I No. 

In the course of your former examina- 
tion you stated, that his Royal High- 
ness advanced sums of mones when un- 
pleasant things happened, and that un- 
pleasant things were constantly happen- 
ing ; do you adhere to that statement ? 
This is what I have been alluding to 
now, but it never exceeded 2001. or 
came to that ; I never recollect his 
bringing me 2001. over what was the al 
lowance ; when I first went to Glouces- 
ter-pUce, tlie first presept that ever his 
Royal Higlmess made me was 5001. ; 
that went for linen and different things. 

State what you mean by constantly ; 
how often in the course of a month ? I 
mean in the course of three years. 

How often do you mean luipleasant 
things have happened, when you apply 
the term constantly ? I think it is an im- 
proper tfrm ; they frequently happened ; 
but Mr. Dowler has relieved several 
things as well as his Royal Highness, 
and I think oftener ; I do not recollect 
his Royal Highness' doing any thing 
above twice. 

Do you mean to say that twice in the 
course of three years is your explanation 
of constantly ? I have said that the woi%' 
was improperly used. 

You have stated, that when the Di'ke 
of York quitted you, he left ydU in debt 
up vurds of 20001. ; w b hat beyond the 
sum for which you sold the house^ and 
was not the house left to you for the ex- 
press purpose of paying your debts ?— 
There was no money left after the small 
debts were paid, and the 7001. 1 had paid 
among the poorer sort of people and the 
servants, which the lawyer can prove : I 
have stated that there was 4001. or 5001. 
to Mr, Hs^rry PhUJips, for hjs conimis- 



sion 3 I had no balance coming to Ua^; 
His Ro\ al Highness has stated,thaT I had 
trinkets to pay the debts as well as ih« 
house, but he knew where the trinkets 
were ; Mr. Comrie can state the wlioie. 

How soon after you went to live in 
Gloucester-place did your distresses be- 
gin ? A long time after ; I was per* 
fectly clear of debt when I went there. 

Did you recei\e any con»iderable sum 
beforehand from his Royal Highness, or 
only received the instalments of 10001. a 
year when you went there ? I had 5001. 
to buy some little necessary things in 
plate and linen 

That was the 5001. you mentioned be» 
fore ? Yes. 

Then that 5001. no part of it went to- 
wards the establisliment ? No, it went 
immediately in necessaries. 

How soon did you begin the establish- 
ment which you stated the otb,«r night, 
as to the number of servants, horses,and 
other expenses ? ImmefUately. 

Were you accurate in stating, that 
what you had from his Royal Highness 
would only pay the liveries and wages ? 
Very soon afterwards I found it. 

Then how did you support this eslab- 
llshment in other respects ; how did yoU. 
feed the servants, and where did j ou get 
your monies for the other expenses you 
might have had ? Some of the money 
has come before the House, the manner 
in which 1 used to get it. 

How soon did that begin after yotiP 
establishment in Gloucester-place ? I 
should think about half a year perhaps j 
I never began it till I felt distressed, and 
the hints I had from his Royal Highness; 
he told me that I always h.id more in- 
terest than the Queen had, and that I 
might use it. 

Had your distresses begun before the 
end of the six months ; if not, how soon 
afterwards I I was going on in credit at 
the beginning. 

how much do you think you were in- 
debted at the end of the first six months '? 
I really cannot say I was always fright- 
ened to look at it. 

Then you were largely indebted at 
the end of the first six months .' Very 
much so. 

Then your distresses must have be- 
gun.and your pressure by bills must have 
begun very shortly after that time*? 
Yes. 

Did they not continue during the whole 
of the three years ? Yes, they did. ^ 

Can you say nearly to what number »£ 



2U 



persons you might be indebted on ac- 
count of your eslublishmcnt ; what num- 
ber of creditors you had ? That is quite 
impossible ; I have a list of a great many 
at iiome, of all that 1 owe money to. 

Uo you think you had fewer than 
fifty ? I should thuik not fewer than 
fifty ; but it might be fifty, or perhaps 
more. 

Tliey were all very piressing ? Most 
of them, as soon as 1 got into debt,press- 
ed for places. 

Did they not press for money ? Wlien 
they found 1 did not take them up in tlie 
otiier way. 

How long were they before they fouud 
that ? I always felt it was impossible to 
recommend a tradesman to any place ; 
and one that was about mc especially. 

Then they soon found they could get 
no places ? Yes, I suppose they did. 

Then tR'ey immediately proceeded to 
demand their monies, did not they ?— 
Yes, they did : but they were always 
very willing to serve me, because they 
•were handsomely paid in the end ; 
they charged me quite as high as ever 
tliey charged tlie Duke himself, if not 
higher. 

Did not numbers of them proceed, at 
the expiratiQP of six months or therea- 
bouts, to bring actions against \ou ?— 
Yes, they did. 

Did not many of those actions pro- 
ceed so as to incur great costs, besides 
the debts ? Yes, very great indeed. 

Wliat do yoti say you wore indebted 
when the establisliment in Gloucester- 
place broke up ? Under 30001. 

Then ho w were those great debts paid 
that were incurred, and which were so 
continually pressed for, from the expira- 
tion of six months, and greatly swelled 
by the costs of the actions ? 1 found 
means in some way or other to satify 
them. 

Were not those means supplied direct- 
ly or indirectly, to a great amount,by the 
Duke of York ? No, never. 

Can you then take upon yourself to 
say, that many bills, upon which actions 
were brought, and the costs incurred, 
were none of them satisfied by the Duke 
of York ? No. 

How do you know that ? I know it as 
Well as 1 know any oilier clrcumstajice. 

Did you pay them yourself ? Yes. 

How long after your living in Gloii- 
oester-place was it before you were en- 
abled to get any .'sums of money, by the 
^Rtrooage you talked of? Perhaps three 



or four months, or fiv« months, I can- 
not exactly say. 

Can you say to wh^t amoimt you got 
by it m the first year ? No, 1 cannot, I 
never took any account. 

Can you say to what amotint you got 
by it in the course of the three yeai's i 
No, I cannot, I never took any account 
whatever of any thing. 

Did the Duke of York defray the 
charge of no part of your expenditure* 
such as horses andcarriages, independent 
of the allowance ? He bought one car- 
riage, which I stated be tore. 

Did he purchase any horses ? For 
about six months 1 had job horses, the 
others 1 always purchased myself. 1 lost 
about 9001. in one yeaj-, in the purchase 
of horses. 

Were those horses kept at the expense 
of the Duke of York, exclusive of the jil- 
lowance ? No, they were not. 

Do you know the father of Miss Tay- 
lor, who was examined here the other 
night ? I do. 

How long have you known him ? I 
have known him about ten years, but I 
have never seen him above half a dozea 
times. 

Have you always known him by the 
name of Taylor ? Always. 

Did you ever state to his Royal High- 
ness that 10001. a year was insufficient 
to stipport your establishment ? Yes, 
he knew it. 

Miss Taylor stated herself to be very 
poor ; have you been kind to hei\ and 
made her presents from time to time ? 
Yes, I have. 

Have you lately ? Yes ; I have not 
within these two months ; about Christ- 
mas she told me she should get the mo- 
ney for her scholars, it was previous to 
that I assisted her. 

To what amotint did you assist her ? 
Very trifling, 1 had not much within my 
own power. 

Did the Duke of York ever send out 
bills in your name, for which he receiv- 
ed the money himself ? I have asked 
for money fi>r his Royal Highness of a 
gentleman, but th.e Duke wanted to 
give a longer bill for it. 

Of your own knowledge, can you sav, 
that the Duke of York was in the habit 
of drawing bills at date, in which he 
placed your name ? No. 

Do you know that these bills, by 
which the plate at Messrs. Birketts' was 
paid for were drawn in tlic way alluded 
to i I never saw the bills ; I should ra^ 



ses' 



ther suppose they were drawn upon 
himself, ami signed Frederick. 

Do you recollect ever getting any mo- 
ney for the Duke of Yprk, upon any bills 
drawn by himself, or any paper of that 
description, that he gave you with his 
name upon it ? No ; 1 do not think that 
Idid. 

You spoke of having a house at Wcy- 
bridge ; was that house ever repaired at 
your expense ? Yes, it was Uioroughly 
repaired, and I built a two-stall stable 
there s 1 laid out between 2001. and 3001. 
upon It, if not more ; 1 believe more ; 
there was 401. or 501. alone for oil-cl ith, 
to screen his Royal Higlmcss ; to screen 
his visits, when he was going backwards 
and forwards, from liie neigiibours. 

Do you know what your diamonds 
60st the Duke of York ? No, i do not ; 
1 never asked. 

Were those diamonds ever in pawn, 
during the period you wore with the 
Duke of York ? Vei) frequently ; and I 
recollect that when Mr. Dowler paid me 
8001. I took them out ; so thai Parker's 
hook would convince about the time 
that he got his appointment, and 1 re- 
ceived the money from him ; it was 
within two or thi-ee days of his being 
gazetted, either after or before. 

Was the Duke of York acquaint( d 
with the circumstanccof your diamonds 
being in pawn ? Yes, because he gave 
me his own bill once, and something 
else, payable toParker ; Parker can shew 
by his books who it was payable to. 

Do you recollect the amount of that 
bill ? 4001. 

You have this night stated, that if ever 
youcalled yourself Mrs. Dowler, it must 
have been in joke ; and you have stated 
also, that when you were at Hampstead, 
you had not called yourself Mrs. Dow- 
ler ? No, 1 had not, never. 

State whether you might not then have 
said any thing of that kind in joke ? I 
might have said that in joke ; but 1 nev- 
er represented myself as Mrs. Dowler, 
nor as any thing but exactly what 1 am, 
except at the court-mai-tial. 

Did you receive any letters when you 
were at Hampstead ? Yes, I did. 

Do you recollect how those letters were 
directed ; were they to Mrs Clarke ? 
Tp Mrs. Clarke, or else to Capt. Thomp- 
son, for I was afraid of being arrested ; 
or to Mrs. NichoUs, the woman's name 
who waited upon me : siie acted as my 
Cook ; she was the mistress of the liouse. 

•Do you vecoilcct any Idler or Igttgrs 



directed to you as Mrs. Dowler ? N« 
never ; I never had such a thing. 

Was MissTaylor in the habit of visit, 
ing you frequently ui Gloucester-place t- 
She almost used to live constantly with 
me there ; she would be there two or 
three days in a week ; that was when 
lier father's misfortunes were beginning. 

VV as Mis.s Taylor in the habit of dining, 
when she was there, with the Duke of 
York and yourself ? Very frequently. 

Do you recollect the names of the ser- 
vants that used to wait upon you at din- 
ner in general ? I never used to let the 
livery servants come into the room, very 
seldom or never, the butler in general i 
the other servants used to bring the tiay 
to the door ; but siie has been seen in. 
the drawing-room b} the maid servants, 
as well as the other men and the butler. 

Had you a footboy of the name of 
Samuel Carter? Yes, I had ; but Col. 
Wardle told me he would not mention 
that. 

State whether Samuel Carter was in 
livery or not i No, he never wore livery. 

Did he attend your carriage when you 
•went out ? Sometimes, if 1 had no ser- 
vant in the way ; but 1 Liked to spare him ' 
as much as 1 could 

But he was in the habit of waiting at 
dinner uj)on the Duke of York, yourself, 
and Miss Taylor ? Yes, he was. 

He cons: antly waited at dinner during 
the period he was in your service ? Yes. 

H(*w long was he in your service ! I 
shmild tliink aboui a twelvemcmth, not 
all that time in Gloucester-place. 

Where did he live before he came t» 
you ? With captain Sutton. 

As his foot boy, or in what capacity? 
Captain Sutton was lame, and he waar 
every thing to him. 

AtGloucester-place did he dothework 
jointly with the other footmen ? Yes. 

Was he perfectly well known to his 
Royal Highness the commander in 
chief ? Yes, he was. 

What is become of him ? He is in the 
West Indies. 

Did you get him a commission in the 
army ? Yes, I did. 

In what regiment did you get him a 
commissiim ? Where he is now, in the 
16th foot ; I think lie is one of tiie staff. 

Do you know why the Duke of York 
withdrew his ])rotection from you ? Mr. 
Adams states that it was in consequence 
of my pleading my marriage to a bill of 
loOl ; but I can prove the contrary to 
ihsxif as I hud done it once beforC|^ jyid- 



he knew it, and the man had sent 
threatening letters to him, and to the 
whole of his Royal Higlmess' family ; 
his name is Charman, a silversmith in 
St. James'-street ; I have my own opin- 
ion of the separation. . 

Did his Royal Highness assign any 
reason for it ? No, he did not ; but I 
guess the reason. 

Was it on account of your interfer- 
ences in military promotions ? No, it 
was what Mr. Adam stated, upon mo- 
nev matters ; but not that one of the 
fciU. 

You stated, that you had been fre- 
quently conversant in military promo- 
tions, and sometimes successfully ; can 
you confidently state, and risk your vera- 
city upon it, that the Duke of York was 
ever privy to one or more of those trans- 
•actions ? To the whole. 

Do you mean to state, that you did not 
represent that Mr. Dowler was your 
husbandjwhcn you wei-e at Hampstead ? 
No, I did not represent. 

Do you mean to state, that you did not 
say that Mr.Dowler wis your husband ? 
I might have said so, very possibly, but 
never serious, because they mus4 have 
kno\vn better, whoever I said it to. 

Did you or did you not e»ef s»y, that 
Mr. Dowlerwas your husband ? I think 
it is very possible I did say so, in the 
manner I liave stated. 

Do you not know that you did say that 
Mr. Dowler was your husband i No, I 
do not. 

Did yoti not assign a reason for keep- 
ing your marriage with him secret ! I 
do not recollect that I did ; I co«ild only 
have said it to some one who was very 
intimate with me, and knew all about 
me, and could have no view in it. 

Was Mr. Dowler ever in the same 
house with you at Hanipstead I Yes, he 
•was very frequently, during the time he 
"was in England. 

Did he sleep in the same house ? Yes, 
he did, several times, but not with me. 

Had Mr. Dowler any acquaintance 
witli any person in the house, except 
yourself? There was no one there ex- 
cept myself and my children, and a 
F'onch young lady, and captain Thomp- 
son. * 

In whose house were you at that time i 
Mr. Nicholls' house. 

Do you mean to say, that during the 
time yovi resided in Gloucester-place, a 
part of the expenses of the establishment 
were not defrayed by the Duke, besides 



2S6 

the allowance that h^ jiaid to ydu ? 
have staved all I can recollect. 

Do you mean to say that none of the 
bills for the constant expenses were paid 
by his Royal Highness ? Yes, 1 do. 

Did not his Royal Highness pay for 
the furniture of the house ? 1 did not 
mean to that, 1 understood constant ex- 
penses ; 1 do not put the furniture as 
constant expenses. 

Did not the Duke pay for the furni- 
ture ? Yes, all of it except the glass ; I 
believe that cost me four or five hundred 
pounds. The chandeliers, those I paid 
for m vself. 

Did n.)t his Royal Highness pay for 
the wine ? He sent in a great deal of 
wme, but I bought wine myself: I kept 
a great deal of company, and a great 
deal was drank. 

Do you mean to say that a chief part 
of the expenses fop wme was not defray- 
ed by his Royal Highness ? His Rt)yal 
Highness sent iii wme, but it never was 
enough ; I purchased wine myself, both 
Claret ..nd Madeij-a ; and even that he 
did send in, he used to scold very much 
tliat it went too fast. 

To whom did you apply for the com- 
mission for 3am. Carter in the 16th regi- 
ment ? To his Royal Highness. 

Did ou apply to his Royal Highness 
for a commission for Sam. Carter in the 
name of S.imuel Carter ? Yes ; it was 
his real name. 

Is it the name in which he is gazett- 
ed ? Yes. 

Was that the name by which he was 
usually called in your family and even to 
his Royal Highness the commander in 
chief ? Yes, it was. 

Was his Royal Highness aware that 
it was the same person who had occa- 
sionally waited upon him at your table, 
for whom you asked that commission I 
Yes, he was. 

Was he recommended by any body 
beside yourself ? No, 1 suppose it is in 
tiie office some one has recommended 
him. 

What interval elapsed from the time 
Carter was in yotu" service till he ob- 
tained tlie commission ? I should think 
he was living with me near a twelve- 
month altogether,not entirelyinGlouces- 
ter-place but iuTavistArk-place like wise. 

Did he go immediately from your ser- 
vice into the army ? Yes, Ik did. 

Did his Royal Highness see Samuel 
Carter subsequent to his being gazett- 
ed i Yes, he did. 



:| 



2^7 



Did he speak to Samuel Carter on the 
subject of liis having' a cpmniission, 
either before or after he obtained tlie 
•ommission ? — I do not know what his 
Royal Highness said to him ; but he saw 
him after he liad been down to the Isle 
of Wight, and joined the depot ; he 
came up to me for some money, and his 
Royal Highness saw him in Gioucester- 
place. 

Is Samuel Carter anyrelation of yours ? 
No, not at all. 

What part of the time did Carter live 
with you in Gloucester-place ?— I should 
think five or six montJis ; I cannot ex- 
actly say, but I know he lived with me 
many months. 

At the time Miss Taylor was dining' 
so constantly with you as you represent, 
■was Peirson your butler ? — He waited 
upon her while he was there, and the 
other also : Sam. Carter has been wait- 
ing while she has been with us, and an- 
other butler, who lias left me. 

You have stated, that Samuel Carter 
was a boy ; what age was he when he 
got his commission ? — I culled him a 
boy, because he was sliort ; I believe he 
was eighteen or nineteen, of a proper 
age for tlie commission. 
gTUc witness was directed to ^itUdraw. 



WILLIAM ADAM, Esquire, attend, 
ing in his place, was examined asr 
follows : 

It appears that an annuity of 4601. a 
year was to be paid conditionally to Mrs- 
Ctai-ke ; were you consulted by the Duke 
of York whether that annuity should or 
not be piUd ? — I have already stated all 
I know respecting that annuity ; and if 
the Hon. gentleman will refer to thc» 
evidence 1 have given, he will find that I 
know notUing about the payment of the 
annuit}'. 

Do you confirm the statement made 
by Mrs. Clarke, that she hatl an allow- 
ance of only lOOOl. a year ? — If the wor- 
thy baronet will take the troublil to pe- 
ruse the evidence I have already given, 
he will find it is perfectly inconsistent 
with any accoimt I have given that I 
could possibly answer that question, be- 
cause I am totally ignorant, as I have 
already said, of all payments made by 
the Duke of York, except those which 
fell under my cognizance as Trustee. 

[The Chairman was directed to report 
progress, and ask leave to sit again. 



Tuesday, \^th February, I899. 



Mt. Wharton in the chair. * 

Mrs.ELIZABETH BRIDGMANwas 
called in. 

Exmnined by the Committee. 

Do you recoUecf any thing of Peirson, 
the butler to Mrs. Clarke, calling to ^ave 
a note changed, the lattei- end of Ju.y 
1805 ?— Yes, I do. 

State where you live ? — No. 6, Vere- 
street. 

In what bosiness are you engaged ? — 
A confectioner. 

State exactly what passed with regard 
to that note. — I cannot recollect exactly 
■what passed, but I did not change the 
note. 

Do you recollect Peirson bringing a 
Bote to be changed at that time ? — He 
did bring a note, but I do not recol- 
lect seeing the note and I did not 
change it. 

Have you no memorandums which 
you could refer to ? — No. 

Perhaps you do not know the amount 
of the note ? — I think he said it was a 
1001. note. 

You did not see it, but he said so ? — I 
did not see it. 

Do you recollect with any precision 
the time, the day, or the month in which 
it happened ? I do not. 

Some time in July ?— I cannot say 
what time it was but I recollect the 
circumstance of his coming with the 
noie. 

You cannot even be sure as to the 
month in which it took place ? No. 

Was he frequently in the l.abit of 
coming to your house ' Frequently, to 
order things for Mrs. Cl.irke. 

To get notes changed ? I never recol- 
lect his changing any thing more than a 
small note, which might be Jo pay any 
little bilis she had contracted. 

You do not, of your own knowledge, 
know this was not a small note ?— 
JJo, I did not see it ; he merely asked 
■me, whether I could change such a 
Jlote. 



You did not see the note, and did n«t 

change it ? No. 

Do you recollect what was the larg'est 
note you ever changed before for him * 
I do not, but none of any high amount I 
never changed. 

Are you certain that Peirson told you 
this was a large note ? To the best of 
my recollection he said a 1001. note. 

Do you recollect whether it was in the 
summer time ? I cannot say positively, 
but I tiiink it was. 

Do you not carry on business in part- 
nership with another person ? There is 
another person in the concern with Mr. 
Brigman, but not exactly a partner ; but 
he knew nothing of the transaction of 
the note. 

Did you in general have the manage- 
ment of the money concerns, or the 
partner, in the year 1805 ? He had 
nothing to do with it, he was in the 
country. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

Mr. ALEXANDER SHAW was call- 
ed in, and the letter from lieutenant- 
colonel Shaw to Mrs. Clarke, given in 
evidence yesterday, being shewn to 
him, he was examined by the com- 
mittee, as follows : 

Do you know Col. Shaw's hand-writ- 
ing ? 1 think 1 ought to know it. 

Do you know that to be the hand- 
writing of Col. Shaw ? 1 think I know 
it to be. 

Did you ever see him write ? — I 
have . 

Do you state that to be his hand- 
writing ? 1 believe it is. 

Have you any doubt about it ? I have 
no doubt about it ; it is very like, and 
I believe it s. 

Did you ever see colonel Shaw write ? 
Colonel Sliaw is my son, and we have 
lived as father and son ought to do'; as 
good friends. 

[The witness was dii-ected to with- 
draw. 



WIff 



Me. CHARLES SHAW was called in. 

Examined by the Committee. 

Of your own kaowledg'e do you know 
that 2U01. was remitted to Mrs Clarke 
on 'iccount of colonel Shaw ?---No, I do 
not ; but I know that 3001. was. 

Slate at what period that SOOl.was re- 
mitted. — I received a letter from colonel 
Shaw, mentioning' that he wislied to 
convey 3001. to his friend, and request- 
ing that I would receive that sum of Mr. 
Cautts, having sent me an order to that 
eilbct, and that I would send it by a 
careful hand, addressed to Mrs. Clarke, 
No 18, Gloucester-place. I received 
the money from Mr. Coutts, in conse- 
quence of the order, and delivered it 
myself at the door. 

When wiis that ? — I unfortunately 
have kept no papers or any letters ; but, 
in consequence of the summons of this 
House, 1 called at Mr. Coutts' to-day, 
and found from their books that I re- 
ceived it on the 9th of May, 1806 ; and 
I perfectly recollett that I delivered it 
that day at Mrs Clarke's door. 

Was this a remittance from colonel 
Shaw from the Cape ? — From Bath : he 
was then immediately to leave Bath 
for Portsmouth, to embark for the 
Cape ; the letter, I perfectly recollect, 
stated, that though he had received his 
appointment, through the influence of his 
friends—— 

Then you have got the letter ? — I un- 
fortunately have it not, for I destroyed 
it soon after he embarked ; but I per- 
fectly recollect that he stated.thatthougii 
he had received the appointment through 
the influence of his own friend, Mrs. 
Cla.ke had shewn a disposition to serve 
him ; that he had already paid her 3001. 
previous to this, and had received an ap- 
plication for the last sum by way of loan, 
and that he was loath to refuse her, be- 
cause he believed there was a disposi- 
tion to serve him, though the appoint- 
ment came certainly through the influ- 
ence of his friend, whom I knew to have 
been sir Harry Burrard, who had inter- 
ested himself very much upon all occa- 
sions for this gentleman, and that the 
appointment was got by him : but that, 
as this lady had shewn a disposition to 
serve liim, he had in consequence sent 
this jOOl. that it was expressly given by 
way of loan. In consequence of what I 
read to day in the newspaper, that Mrs. 
Clarke declared in this House, that this 
gentleman bad used her ill, and liadnot 
30 



fulfilled all his engagements, I beg to 
declare from my own khowiedge, and I 
am ready to bring evidence lo the bar 
of this House, that lieutenant-colonel 
Shaw is a man ot as high honour, and as 
good an ofliccr, as auy man in the King's 
service, and is incapable of m.ikmg any 
pecuniary promise that he has not liter- 
ally, faithfiiU) , and honourably support- 
ed. I beg pardon, if I h tve been too 
warm j but it is such a retieclion upon 
tliis gentleman. 1 am willing to produce 
officers, from his colonel downwards, 
who will state, that he never forfclted 
an engagement he had made in his life ; 
his services are well known. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

Colonel GORDON was called in. 
Mxamtned by the Committee. 

Can you state when major Shaw was 
appointed to be assistant barrack mas- 
ter general, and at wiiat per.od he was 
put upon the half-pay ? — 1 beg to ask, 
whether you would wish me lo answer 
that question as it is put to me, or to 
read the wliole proceeding respecting 
major Shaw's appointment, from the 
first to the last. 

Answer the question at first, as it is 
put. — 1 do not believe that I have g'ot the 
document in my jiossession which can 
exactly answer that question ; it must 
have been about the endof March,1806, 
or the beginning of April. 

Do you mean that it was the end of 
Miirch, 1806, or the beginning of April, 
tliat he was appointed barrack master 
general ? — I believe he was appointed 
deputy barrack-master general, and 
placed upon half-pay immediately after- 
wards. 

Do you know how soon afterwards he 
was placed upon the half-pay ? — 1 cannot 
fi'om my recollection at this moment 
ascertain the dates ; but they are \ery 
easily ascertained ; a reference to the 
army list, or the documents in the office, 
or the Gazette, would ascertain it in a 
moment. 

Are there documents in your office 
that would ascertain it ! — Yes, there 
are. 

State anything you know to the com- 
mittee respecting the applications that 
were made for colonel Shaw's situation. 
— With tlie permission of the House, I 
will read all the documents in my posses- 
sion with respect to the appointment of 
majer Shaw, Jieutenant-colon<?l Shaw 



25t 



The first document is a letter fi-om lieu- 
tenant-general Burrard to me, dated 
August the 11th, 1804 ; it is not dated 
.where from, but it was most likely from 
the orderly-room in the guards. 

QColonel Gordon read the letter.] 

" Dear Sir, Aug. 11th, 1804. 

" 1 am so much employed on a board 
of clothing, that I cannot do myself the 
pleasure of waiting upon you. The en- 
closed will inform you of the situation 
of a friend of mine, whom I wish much 
to serve. If Col. Clinton is in London, 
he can tell you exactly how he stands ; 
as can colonel Lorraine. 

" If you can put me in the way of 
serving him, I shall be extremely oblig- 
ed to you. He has served long, always 
abroad, and very gallantly, and his fath- 
er was a brother captain and friend 
many years back. I request you to ex- 
cuse the liberty I take and trouble I 
Ifive you, and believe me truly, 

" Your most obedient, 

"Harry Burrard." 
«* Lt. Col. Gordon, 

&c. &c. &c. 

The next document is my answer to 
that letter. 

[Colonel Gordon read theanswer.3 
(Copy.) 

** Horse-Guards, 
" Dear General, 16 Aug. 1804. 

" I fear that your wishes in behalf 
of major Shaw cannot be complied with ; 
his Royal Highness being of opinion, 
that he must join his regiment before 
any further recommendation in his fa- 
vour can be attended to. 

" Yours, &c. 
(Signed) "J.W.Gordon.*' 
" M. General Burrard, 
&.C. &c. &c." 

The next document is sir Harry Bur- 
rard's to me, August the 27th.. 

[Colonel Gordon read the Letter.] 

" My Dear Sir, Aug. 27, 1804. 

" I shall be obliged to you if you 
xvill let me know whether Clinton has 
spoken to you about major Shaw ; and 
^f you think he may be likely to see the 
Commander in' Chief to-morrow. He 
hjis found a major of the 39th eager to 



go to Cey Ion, but he is himself prepw. 
ing as fast as he can, however distress., 
ing it is to him. 

"I am truly yours, 

"H. Burrard." 

The next is my answer to that letter. 

[Colonel Gordon read the letter.] 
(Copy.) 

"Horse- Guards, 
" Dear General, 28 Aug. 1804. 

*' Clinton spoke to me with much 
warmth about major Shaw, but havingf 
twice mentioned his name and wishes 
to the Commander in Chief, I cannot 
again venture to do it. 

" I recommended major Shaw to 
speak to his Royal Highness, and state 
his situation. 

" Yours, 
(Signed) " j. W. Gordon." 
" M. General Bun-ard, 
&c. &c. &c* 

The next letter that appears on tliis 
subject is from sir Harry Burrard to me, 
on the 27th of March, 1805. 

[Colonel Gordon read the letter.] 

Put by. 

" (Private and confidential.)" 

" My dear Sir, March 27, 1805- 

" My friend Shaw's health is by no 
means re-established, and his family 
still in extreme distress from their re- 
cent losses and misfortunes. I could 
therefore wish his leave to be extended 
for two months, and I am sure it would 
prevent infinite distress to him. If you 
can manage it for me, I shall be ex- 
tremely obliged to you. 

•' I have heard it whispered, that it 
was possible rank could be obtained by 
raising men. If it is so, and this could 
be tUlowed him, it would most materi- 
ally serve him, and do away the mortifi- 
cation I am afraid my want of skill has 
occasioned ; and I should not have to 
reproach myself at any rate witli want 
of success. 

" I am afraid his leave will be soon 
out, and his anxiety will, of course, be 
great. Pray excuse the trouble I give 
you, and be assured that nothing can af- 
ford me more pleasure than serving you, 
as 1 really am 

•' Your obliged hum. Serv. 

" Harrv Burr an:.'' 



231 



T^he next is my answer to that letter, 
iated the 2^tli of March. 

[Colonel Gordon read the letter.] 

(Copy) 

" Horse -Guards, 
28th March 1805. 
" Dear General, 

" His Royal Highness has much 
pleasure in complying- with your request 
for a prolongation of leave of absence 
for major Shaw ; which leave has been 
extended for two months, from the ex- 
piration of his present leave, and tiie 
same has been notified to the adjutant 
general. 

" At the same time it is but just to 
hint to major Shaw, that there is a duty 
to the service, to which the commander 
in chief, however anxious his Royal 
Highness may be to relieve the distress- 
es of individuals, must give attention ; 
and, if the circumstances of major Shaw 
are such as to preclude him from joining 
on so remote a service, he should retire 
upon the half pay until spme more fa- 
vourable opportunity. 

" Ever your's, &c. 

(Signed) J. W. Gordon." 

" P. S. Thei'e is no intention at pres- 
ent on the part of government to raise 
men for rank in the infantry, 

" Lt. Gen. Burrard, 
&c. &c. Sic." 

The next is from general Burrard to 
me on the 10th of May following. 

[Colonel Gordon read the letter.] 

" C. B. 

Speak to me." 

" My dear Sir, May 10, 1805. 

•' I cannot stifficiently acknowledge 
in general Archer's name and my own, 
how much we feel obligation to his Roy- 
al Highness ; I sincerely hope Archer 
will have opportunity of evincing his 
gratitude and zeal. 

Since I spoke t© you concerning ma- 
jor Shaw, he has called upon me to in- 
form me that he cannot, conditionally 
not to pay if he does not proceed to India, 
get a passage secured, and that the cap- 
tains require 4001. Now, as he is led 
to have some hopes still, that an oppor- 
tunity may offer to promote him, from 
what his Royal Higlmess so graciously 



said, he feels a reluctance to sink So 
large a sum, if there is a possibility to 
avoid it. If you could, tiierefore, soon 
again recall him to the Duke, he would 
abide by whatever was the determina- 
tion of his Royal Highness. 

•' Excuse my troubling you, and be- 
lieve me truly 

Your faithful and obliged 
humble servant, 

Harry Burrard" 
" Lt. Col. Gordon." 



The next is my answer to that letter. 

[Colonel Gordon read the letter.] 

" Horse-Guards, 
13th Ma-y, 1805. 
" Dear General, 

•' I have laid your letter of the 10th 
instant before the commander in chief, 
and am directed to acquaint you, that 
his Royal Highuess sees no prospect of 
any early opportunity of complying with 
major Shaw's wishes ; and that, there- 
fore, it is advisable he should proceed 
to join his regiment by the earliest con- 
veyance. 

" I have, &c. 
(Signed) y. W. Gordon." 

" Lt. Gen. H. Burrard," 
8ic. &c. Sec. 

The next that I hold in my hand is 
March 1806, from Sir Harry Burrard to 
me. 

[Colonel Gordon read the letter.] 

*' (Confidential.)" 

March 26, 06 
" My dear Gordon, 

" I hope you will pardon the anxie- 
ty of a soldier to get promotion ; and of 
his friend, and the very ancient one of 
his old father, to assist him in it, partic- 
ularly as he is well assured of his zeal 
and general worth. Under this pre- 
sumption 1 enclose a letter from major 
Shaw, with my earnest hopes that shotdd 
any thing turn up, in which you can 
bring his name forward, that he may 
not be forgotten. I enclose it for your 
private reading, and request at your leis- 
ure you will return it. I will at any 
time attend you, to prevent you the trou- 
ble of writing, or rather the tivie of it, 
for I know the former you do not mind. 
Your mcRscnCj^er knows where to fini 



232 



me, as I am at this Orderly-Room for 
two or three hours most daj's. 
" I am truly yours, 

with great regard, 

Harry Burrard" 



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The enclosed is from major Shaw to 
Sir Hanv Burrard, dated Pevensey Bar- 
racks, lyth March 1S06. 

[Colonel Gordon read it.3 

(Inclosure.j 

" Pevensey Barracks, 
19th March I8O6. 
" My dear Sir, 

" I fear that you must think me 
presuming on your miin\ kindnesies in 
again troubling you, and being without 
apology, I must rely entirely on your 
goodness. In making, however, my 
present request, let me beg that, if at- 
tended with any circumstances unpleas- 
ant to you, that you bestow no further 
consideration, tlian pardoning the liber- 
ty of my having miide it. 

" I shall premise 'with stating, that 
previously to my removal from the Cey- 
lon regiment, his Royal Highness had 
been gracio\isly pleased to promise me 
promotion, on' a favourable opportunity 
offering- ; and on my joining the 40th 
regiment, I repeated my desire of pur- 
chasing, to whicli I now s'and noted by 
a letter from colonel Gordon. Having 
had further assurances given to me of his 
Iloyal Highness' favourable intentions, 
in the admission of my services, being 
now nearly 23 years ni his Majesty's 
army, that my cotemporaries are gener- 
ally colonels or old lieutenant colonels, 
and that I experienced the mortification 
of being purchased over by an officer 
from another regiment, and Jay many 
J'ears m\ junior in \\v< profession ; from 
these cirrumstunces. 1 am induced to 
hope, that should colonel Gordon favour 



me by bringing my case to his Royal 

Highness' notice, that I might benefit 
by some mark of favour in the military 
arrangements that are expected to take 
,place. It is in this expectation that I 
venture to trouble you, and I shall feel 
myself sincerely obliged b} your men- 
tioning to colonel Gordon (shoidd a de- 
sirable opportunity offer) my services, 
disappointments, and present hopes, and 
1 shall esteem it a particular favour his 
bringing my case at tliis period to his 
Royal Highness' remembrance. 

" I shall no longer trespass on your 
time but in offering ray best respects to 
Mrs. Burrard. I rejnain, with sincere 
gratitude. 

My dear Sir, 

Your's most faithfully, 
and much obliged, 

y. Shaiur 

The next letter is one from general 
Burrard, March 29th, 1S06. 

[Colonel Gordon read the letter.Q 



" (Private.)" 

March 29th, 06. 
" My dear Sir, 

" To shorten the business, I send 
youShaw's letter, which is nothing more 
than to say, that he gratefully will ac- 
cept, if the deputy barrack-mastercy at 
the Cape can be obtained, with the rank 
of Lieut. Col. and go there in three 
weeks. I explained that ; and also, f hsit 
(if it could be obtained) he would be 
put on half pay as soon as it could be 
done. His request is to come to London 
immediately, if he can succeed. 
" I am truly 

Your obliged servant, 

H. Burrard." 
" Pray return the letter." 
" Lt. Col. Gordon." 



2 c 



I did not return the letter, and I now 
have it in my hand ; it is a letter from 
colonel Shaw to general Burrard. 



93S 



[Colonel Gordon read the letter.] 

(Inclosiire.) 

•' Pevensey Barracks, 

« My dear Sir, 28tli March 1806. 

" 1 am just honoured with your let- 
ter, and I trust you will believe that I 
feel, tiiough I shall not attempt to ex- 
press my gratitude, for your present and 
many kindnesses towards me, and I c^ 
only add, that my sense of obligsition can 
alone cease with my existence. 

•• I -have as far as the present time al- 
lowed, given every consideration to the 
proposal you have made me, and should 
conceive myself most fortunate in suc- 
ceeding to it, and should be ready to 
proceed in the time you mention. Ihave 
only to request, that should the decision 
prove favourable, that I might be per- 
mitted an immediate leave of absence, 
as 1 should have a great deal to arrange 
in regard to my family. It would be 
my wish, could I procure an accommo- 
dation, to take my wife and two of my 
children out with me, and to leave the 
others in this country. 

" As our warning for the post is very 
short, I must conclude, begging my best 
respects to Mr. Burrard, and that you 
will beUeve me, with every sentiment 
of sincere gratitude, 

Your's most sincerely 
and faithhfuliy, 
" Gen. Burrard." J. Shaiu." 

The mark I put upon this letter was, 
" the appointment is now to go on ;" it 
did go on ; he was appointed deputy- 
barrack-master-general at the Cape, 
with the rank of lieutenant colonel, and 
as soon as possible, was put upon half 
pay. I have further to state to the com- 
mittee, that when this subject was men- 
tioned in the House some evenings ago, 
I sent to Sir Harry Burrard, to request 
he would bring to his recollection all 
the circumstances that took place upon 
the subject of Shaw's appointment. Sir 
Harry Burrard waited upon me on the 



30th of January last, and put this paper 
into my hands. 

[Colonel Gordon read the letter.] 

The following day Sir Harry Burrard 
sent me this letter. 

[Colonel Gordon read the letter.] 

1 have now told the committee all I 
know upon that subject. 

In the first letter that you have read, 
colonel Shaw refers to some promises 
made him of promotion by his Royal 
Highness the commander in chief ; do 
you know what those promises were ?— 
I cannot state exactly that I do know, 
but I supposed them to have been the 
usual ans\vers given to officers who 
make application for promotion, that 
their names were noted, and woidd be 
considered with the names of other of- 
ficers of equal pretentions, when future 
opportunities offered. 

You do not know of any other promise 
which major Shaw had received ?— No, 
I do not. 

Is it usual for field officers on the Staff" 
to be put on half pay ! — When a field of- 
ficer accepts a staff appointment abroad, 
a permanent staff appointment,it is usual 
for him to be placed upon the half pay ; 
it is the general rule of the army : there 
we exceptions, which I can explain 
when called upon. 

State the exceptions. — The best way 
for me to state the exceptions would be 
to read to the committee a list of all the 
permanent staff situations, and to state 
all that are upon half pay, and who are 
not, and why. 

Was the officer who held the appoint- 
ment before major Shaw, on half pay or 
full pay ? — If I recollect right, major 
Shaw was the first person who held it ; 
he was appointed upon the capture of the 
colony of the Cape of Good hope. 

[Col. Gordon delivered in a list of the 
staflfoflftcers on foreign stations.] 



384 



List of the Staff Officers on Foreign Stations, 



JPatt Indies. •* 



Adjutant General— Lt. 
Sir W. Keir 



Col 



.Comet IS Drs. 

T^ieut. 
)Cj.pt. 6 D. G. . 

VI aj. 

'i.t. Col. 22 Drs. 
lialf pay 



2 June irStf 
19 Feb. 93 
6 July 94 
6 Jan. 96 

3 Dec. 1800 
25 June 02 



Deputy ditto — Lt. Col. Camp 
bell, 33 Regt. 



fLieui. 73 F. 
I 74 

I Ciipt. 51 
Maj. 27 
half pay 
-33 F. 
Col. 



<^ Ma]. 
LLt C 



30 Scpi.l7tf8 
1 Sept. 96 

14 June 1800 

24 Nov. 1802 
Ditto. 

27 Sept. 03 
6 Aug. 07 



TEns 46 F. 
I Lieut. 

Q. Master General— Colonel-^ ^*P.^,fn ^• 
Eden, 84 Re. - - ) ^-J- 79 



['± 



Col. 
84 



26 Aug. 1786 
1 May 1790 
3 June 95 
16 Dec. 95 
15 Aug. 98 
11 Dec. 1806 



Deputy ditto— Maj. Johnson, 
77 Re. - - - 



fLns. 102 F. 
Lieut. 92 

ha' f pay 
Lieut. 22 F. 



< Lieut. 22 

Ciipt 61 

I 77 



Brevet Maj. 



8 July 179» 

1794 
17 Dec.I802 

9 July 1803 
3 Sept. 1803 

Mar. 1808 



d^ylo 



fDep. Adj. General — Lt. Col. 
I H. Q. Brownrigg, BaiUie's 
Reg. 



Dep. Q: M. General— Maj. J. 
Wilson, 12 Ft. 




Ceylon Rt 
3d bo. - 



12 Nn-.1788 

3 Sept. 95 

28 Oct. 95 

25 Apr. 1802 

7 Apr. 1804 



Ens. Ind. 


4 Dec. 1793 


Lieut. 87 F. 


- 5 Dec. 93 


Capt. 12 


- 25 June 96 


vlaj. 


27 June 1802 



Cape of Good. 
Hope. 



Dep. Adj. General — Lt. 
Sorel, half pay 



Col. 



Dep. Q: M. General— Lt. Col. 
Harcourt ... 



"Ens. 3i F. 

Lieut. 

Capt. 

half pay 

18 

Maj. 43 

half pay 



18 Aug. 1790 
31 Aug. 95 
1 Sept. 95 
1802 
25 May 03 
11 Aug. 04 
19 May 08 



Ens. 127 F. 


11 Dec. 1794 


r Lieut. 99 


20 Ditto 


) 16 Drs. . 


7 Apr. 95 


VCapt. 20 F. 


22 Oct. 99 


',vlaj.40F. 


25 Dec. 02 


half pay 


Ditto 



Cape of Good 
Hope. 



Madeira. 



5a5 

r Lieut. 77 W. 
I Capt. 
Dep. Bar. Mast. General— Lt J Maj- 1 Ceylon R. 

Col. Shaw, half-pay. "\ 27 - 

I — 40 
L I. Half- Pay 



Dep. Adj. General— Lt. Col. 
Darling. » 



(Ens. 5 F. 
Lieut S F. 
Capt. 68 
Mdj.^M.Gen.Staff 

84 

Haif-Pav 



25 Dec. iy87 

24 Jan. 1796 
5 Ma;- 1804 

11 Sept. 180S 

25 C/c(. 1805 
8 May U6 

8 yM/y 1780 
25 Sept. 1783 

30 May 1795 

31 i)<rc. 1803 
18 Aug. 180» 
25 X>/«o 



Dep. Q: M. Gen*— Maj. Austin 



' Ens. 85 F. 
i Lieut. 

Half Pay 
— 69 
.Capt. 58 F. 



30 Jan. 1800 
22 ^u/j/ 1800 
20 Aug. 180 J 
13 Nov. 1805 
28 Z)/«o 



f.BH*. 67 F. 
Lieut. 67 F. 

Horsford, 18 Keg. S ^'^''■^- ** 



Jamaica. 



Dep. Q. M General— Lt. Col. 
Myers, 70 Ueg^, 



Q.Ma8ter and B.irrack Master 
General — B.Gen.Gledsianes. 



'< Maj 

[^ 

f Ehs. 
I Lieut 



59 - - 
Co/. 4 »^. /. J?. 
18 



15 Aug. 178r 
14 Ocf 1790 
17 Sep. 94 

4 June 96 
30 .^K^. 99 

28 Aug. 1801 
26 ^fan. 09 



69 F. 
40 



23 Z)r*. 
Half-Pay 

lODrs 

4 W. I. R. 

Mij. 7i) 



11 April 1795 
22 i)cc. 95 
17 yan. 99 
28 iVfaj- 1801 
1802 
25 May 1803 
24 Nov. 1804 
1 Oc^ 1804 



Tins. 58 i*'. 
k Lieut. 

•'.'apt- 57 

Maj. 
.Lt. Col. 



22 Feb. 1771 

28 April 74 

22 6V/><. 83 

1 Mar 94 

1 .S■e/>^ 95 



(Vest Indies. < 



fEns. 60 F. - 6 ya«. 

I Lieut, - • 26 i\ro<p. 

Deputy Ditto— Lt. Col. Gor-j Capt. - - 10 July 

aon, half pay. - - A Maj. - • 16 May 

Lt.Col. ■ 9 Mar. 

\_ Half Pay - 4 Jan. 



Adjutant General — B. Gen 
Hamsay. . . - 



Lt. Col. York Rangers 25 May 



CLf. I 



60 F. 



30 Dec. 



Deputy Do^-Lt. Col. 
bell, 54 Ree. 



Camp- 



CEns. 6 W. I R. 

67 

Lt. 57 

95 

Capt. 

Maj. 43 
t 54 



11 Aug. 1797 
29 Oct. 98 

23 Aug. 99 
1 Sept. 1800 
4 ytt«e 1801 

24 yan. 1805 
20 Feb. 1806 



$36 



Canada. 



(Ens. 82 F. - 13 May 1783 

Half Pay • Jul- 84 

32 - 4 Oct. 1786 

Lteut. 32 F. - 18 .-Ij*^. 1/90 

Adjutant Gencral-..Lt. Col. J Capt. • - 25 Mar. 95 

Baynes, Nova Scotia Fcnc.^ f% '^ - 2o ^/.r. HOO 

^ ' 2,t. Co/. 5 F^. - 14 Sept. 1804 

Ha f Pay - Ma. 1805 
4GB - 4 i^cc. 1806 



Nova Scotia Fenc, 



Deputy Do.—Lt. Col, Chabot 
half-pay, 24 Drs. 



' Cornet \8 Dn: 
Lieut. 18. Drs. 
Capt. 

j. 27 F. 

{fPav 

- 18 Drs. 

L Ha/fPav 



Capt. 
'< Maj. 27 
H. 
I It 



Qjiart. Mast. Gen.— Lt. 
Kempt, 81 Reg. 



Col 



Ens 101 F. 
Lieut. 

Half-Pay 
Do. A 8 F. 
<( Ca/)f. 113 F. 
Maj. 

Half-Pay 
— 66 F. 
\,Lt Col. 81 



JVb»<l ^^cofio. -< 



Dep. Q; M. General— Lt. Col J ^'«^«' 
Tinling, 1 Gds. - J ^"A^- 



(Ens. 20 F. 

\ Capt. - 
I. 1 Gils. 



Malta. 



17 ^ejor 1807 



30 Apr. 1793 

19 Dec. 1-93 

20 ;5'u/y 99 
24 Oct. 

Ditto 
18 J\^»t-, 
12 Feb. 



02 

02 
1807 



31 3far. 1783 



18 Aug. 



2 >/v 

SO .lf.;K 

18 Jc/f. 

Mar. 

9 >/v 1803 
23 ,7«/ 1803 



84 
85 
94 
94 
94 
98 



{Ens. 23 F. - 24 ^</>r. 1787 
Lieut. 13 " - 13 ^t/-*. 1791 
Capt. 1 »^. 7. R. 1 ^«/k 95 
Jlfo;. 6 W. L R. 3 MJi: 1804 
32 - 1 Aug. 1804 
54 - 23 Nov. 1804 
Half Pay ' 20 i-VA. 1808 



r£;)*. 55 F. - ol -^k^. 93 

Dep. Adj. Gen.— MajorBowJ X.^>u^55F. - 31^^/1. 84 

yer, 59 Rt. - - ) -^'>"'- 7 F. - 24 W«/^. 1795 

^ [.C>pt. 59 - 25 yuly 1798 



1 y«/ie 1778 
3 Dec. 85 

14 il/ar. 94 

15 yan. 98 



£)!*. 51 F. - 30 ^-f/Sf. 1795 

..Lieut. - - 2 yune 1796 

Dep. Adj. General— Lt. Col. y^a/)f. 62 - • 4 Oct. 1797 

Sewell, 48 Reg. - ) Maj. 60 - - 16 yune 1803 

' _ 48 - 24 Nov. 03 



r i. bo/'. - 20 yii;:e 1783 

44 - 21 May 88 

Dep. Q;M. Gcn.—Lieut.Col. ^2,.V«f. 44F. . 31 .ii.'^- 1793 

Phillips, 44 Rt. - i •;„/,,. . . 2 Sept. 1795 

Maj. - - U yan. 1S08 



23r 



Ailj.Gcii.— M.Gcn. CatnpbclU 



Sicily. ■ < 



f £„.<!. 1 7''. 

Lieut 94 
Cnpc. 71 

//. P. 

73 /'". 

i9 Drs. 

- yo F. 

Maj. - - - 
Lt. Col. Cheshire Fenc. 
H.P. 
\^ 61 /'•. - 



Dpp. Ditto- 
3 Foot 



Q.M. Gcneral~Lt. Col. Bun- 
bury, Newfoundlund Fenc. 



19 July 1780 

5 Dtc. 

6 Mar. 

6 yunc 

11 Feb. 

12 Jan. 
1 Mar. 

. 17 Nov. 

16 Jan. 



81 
83 
84 
«7 
88 
95 
96 
98 
02 
04 



-Lt. Col. Airoy 



Ens. 91 /; ■ 
, Lieut. 48 /<•. 
r.upt. 
M,ij. 



.Lt. 



68. F. 
Col. 8. 



6 Dec. 1779 
2 Jan. 82 
19 Nov. 88 
1 ikfrjj/ 96 
4 M(/j/ 98 



'£«.s. 2 /''. GJj. 



14 y««. 1795 



L 



C'lpt. 16 jy;*. - 16 Au^'. 97 

M.ij.9W.LJi. • \l Mar. 02 

Z( Co/..«. M.G. Staff ^l Dec. 03 
Newjaundlanu Fenc. 

28 Mar. 05 



Easi- I.nuies: The adjutant general, 
lieutenant colonel sir W. Koir, upon the 
half-pay : — the deputy adjutant general 
is lieutenant colonel Campbell of tlie 
33d regiment ; lie is not placed upon 
lialf pay, because his regiment is upon 
tlic station : — Qjiarler master general, 
colonel Eden, of the 84tli regiment ; the 
regiment is serving upon tlie station ; 
he is not placed upon tlie half-pay : — 
the deputy quarter-master general, ma- 
jor Johnson, of the 77th regiment ; that 
is an exception ; the regiment is now 

returned to England. At Ceylon, the 

deputy adjutant general, lieutenant col- 
onel Brownrigg ; his regiment is serv- 
ing upon the station : — deputy quarter- 
master general, major Wilson ; his reg- 
iment is serving upon the station. 
Tlie Cape of Good Hope, lieutenant 
colonel Sorel, deputy adjutant general, 
on half.pay : — De])uty quarter master 
general lieutenant colonel Harcourt, on 
lialf pay : — Deputy Ijarrack-master gen- 
eral, lieutenant colonel Shaw, upon half- 
pay : tliose are the only tlu'ee stalfoffi- 

cers at the Cape The Island of 

Madeika : deputy adjutant general, 
lieutenant colonel Darling, on half-pay : 
— Deputy quarter -master general, ma- 
jor Austin, he is a captain, with the 
brevet rank of major ; he is not upon 

halfpay. Jamaica : deputy adju- 

tant general, lieutenant colonel Hodj- 
31 



ford ; his regiment is serving there 
with him : — Deputy quarter-master ge- 
neral lieutenant colonel Meyers ; his 
regiment is serving in the West Indies. 
— — West Indies : quarter-master and 
barrack-master general, brigadier gene- 
ral Gledstanes, on half pay : — Deputy 
ditto, lieutenant colonel Gordon, on the 
half-pay : — The adjutant general, brig- 
adier general Ramsay ; his regiment is 
sex'ving tiiere : — The deputy, lieutenant 
colonel Campbell of the 54th regiment } 
his regiment is serving tliere. Can- 
ada : adjutant general lieutenant colo- 
nel Bayncs, of the Nova Scotia Fenci- 
bles ; his regiment is serving there :— 
Deputy, lieutenant colonel Chabot, on 
half-pay :--Qiiarter-master general,licu- 
tenant colonel Kempt, of the 81st regi- 
ment ; it is not intended to put this oHi- 
cer upon the halfpay : this officer serv- 
ed with tlie late sir Ralph Abercrombic, 
in all his campaigns ; he succeeded, on 
tlie death of sir Ralph Abercromi/ic, to 
be confidential secretary and aid-de- 
camp to lord Hutchinson, he afterwards, 
served with sir John Moore ; lie had 
the honour to command the light infan- 
try in the battle of Maida ; he was iion- 
ourably mentioned in the general's des- 
patch, and contributed as much as any 
officer to the defeat of the enemy on that 
day ; he will be specially exempted from 
this rule :— The deputy quarter-master 



-3S 



general is lieutenant colonel Pyc ; 1 hejy 
\0 sliU'' to tlie IIo'is, lie is u nc:u" rcla- 
liiii, of mine ; bnl lie is on the liuU'-pay. 
Nova Sco riA : depnty adjutant 
general, mujor Uowyer ; he is excepted ; 
he is the son oClhe hvte general liowyer, 
the eldest captain in the 59tli rijfimenl, 
and l\as been ordered to join his reg^i- 
mcnt :-"the deputy quarter-master gen- 
eral is lieutenant colonel Tiuling, of the 
.1st guards ; he is ti lieutenant in tlie 

guards, not a regimental field officer.. 

Malta : the deputy adjutant general is 
lieutenant colonel Sewell, of tlie 48th 
regiment ; his regiment is serving in the 
Mediterranean : ---Deputy quavter-mas- 
ler general, lieutenant colonel Pliillips, 
of the 44th regiment ; his regiment is 
servingin the Mediterranean. — Sicily: 
adjutant general, major general Camp- 
hell ; a general officer, it is not iLsual to 
place upon the half-pay :."tlie deputy 
ililto, lieutenant colonel Alrey, 8th foot ; 
this officer also has been specially ex- 
cepted ; and it is not intended to put 
liim upon the half-pay : he has been 
confidential secretiuy and aid-de-camp 
to general Fox, and gt^neral Mackenzie 
Fra/er ; and is one of the oldest and most 
meritorious officers in the army :---thc 
«iuarler-master general is lieutenant col- 
onel Uunbury ; this officer also distii\- 
qnished himself in the battle of Maida ; 
was specially mentinned in the general's 
despatch ; and it is not intended to place 
him u])on half pay. 

How many of tliesc officers holding 
stafl" situations who are tipon half-pay 
now, were on half pay previous to anil 
at the time they were appointed to those 
start" situations ?- -Spcakmg to the best 
of my knowledge, I believe when ihey 
were appointed to their stafl" situations, 
they were every one, without exception, 
©n full pay. 

Was sir William Kcir upon full ? — 
sir Williani Keir was not. 

You have stated that the two other 
staff officers at the Cape are Lieut. Col. 
Sorel, and Lieut. Col. Harcourt ; were 
eithtr of those officers upon half-pay 
when they received those appointments ? 
—No, they were not, they were ptit tip- 
on h.lf p.iy since ; the pi^per I gave in 
wih state it exactly ; and Ido believe, 
with the exception of sir \\''iiriam Keir, 
they were idl upon full pay ; there may 
be one or two exceptions. 

Does sir William Keir receive his 
Italf-pay ? — That is a financial question 
t'hat I can only answer as matter of j^en- 



cral information ; 1 believe he does not, 
as he has applied for it, and I believe he 
does not receive it. 

Am I correct in supposing that colo- 
nel Kempt was a]ipointed quarter-master 
general in Canada, on the commenda- 
tion of sir James Craig ; colonel Kempt, 
being at that time absent in Sicily ? — 
Yes, he was ; colonel Kempt had n«%, 
notion of his appointment until it was 
intimaied to him. 

Am I correct in supposing that colo-r 
nel Kempt would have declined that 
situation, if it had interfered with his 
sittiation as Lieut. Col. of the Slsi regi- 
ment ? — I am quite positive of it, for he 
repeatedly assured me so. 

Is the deputy quarter-master general 
in Sicily on full pay ; or does he receive 
any other pay than that of his staff situ- 
ation ? — I do not know that he does ; I 
believe that he receives merely the pay 
for his staff situation, and will be placed 
on the half-pay in addition to that as 
soon as an opportunity can be foiuul, but 
at present he is aggrieved by not even 
having the half pay, — that is Lieut, col- 
onel Campbell. 

Have the staff-officers whom you 
mention as being on half-pay, been on 
halfjjay ever since they have Iteld those 
staff situations ? — I believe I have stated 
to the Hotise, that to the best of my re- 
collection they were ."dl upon full-p.iy 
when they were appointed, and were 
placed upon h:df-pay as soon as possible 
afterwards. 

Immediately upon tlieir receiving their 
start appointments they were placed up- 
on half-pay ? — As soon as possible after- 
wards ; the Commander in Chief has it 
not in his power to place an officer upon 
half pay whenever he pleases j there 
must be a vacancy on tlie half-pay estab- 
lishiTient. 

I understood you to say that an officer 
of the name of Bowyer in the West In- 
dies was on the full-pay, holding a start' 
appointment ; what start' appointment 
does he hold ? — I said that m.ijor Bow- 
yer was deputy adjutant general in the 
West Indies,iu\dheisthe eldest captain 
of the 59th regiment ; he has been order-, 
ed to join his regiment, or he will be 
placed upon the half-pay. 

What regiment did colonel Shaw be- 
long to before he received his start" ap- 
pointment ? — Colonel Shaw exchanged 
irom one or two, but I believe it is the 
4Ulh regiment. 

Did jj^ancral Burrard command a bat- 



tolion of tlie gaiards at that time ? — He 
commanded the brigade of guards in 
London. 

Did you state those documents which 
you read to be all the documents respect- 
ing the appointment of major Shaw ? — 
They are all that I know of, in my pres- 
ent recollection. 

All those tljai are in the office ? — Up- 
•n my word 1 believe so. 

Is it customary to appoint an officer to 
any start' appointment, or any advantag- 
eous situation, without inquiring of the 
•fficer • commanding the regiment to 
■whom he belongs, what has been the 
conduct of that officer ?-That is the gen- 
eral mode, tb apply to the officer com- 
manding the regiment ; but major Shaw 
had not been in the 40th regiment six 
months, if my recollection serves me 
right, and general Burrard states that 
he knew him from a boy. 

Is it not customary to apply to tlie gen- 
eral officer, who is colonel of the regi- 
ment, iu such cases ? — No, I cannot say 
that it is ; the colonel of the regiment, 
not being with his regiment, he is very 
often not so good a judge of the merits 
of the officer, as the officer actually in the 
command of it, or many other officers 
with whom the individual may have pre- 
viously served. 

In point of fact, no application in this 
case was made to any person but to gen- 
eral Burrard ? — General Burrard men- 
tions in his letter, that he had Sir James 
Craig for his friend, and 1 have endeav- 
oured to bring to my recollection whe- 
ther Sir James Craig had ever spoken to 
me about Shaw ; I cannot bring to my 
recollection tliat he did, but it is pos- 
sible that he might. 

Had colonel Shaw ever served under 
Sir James Craig ? — I really know no 
more of it than exactly what Sir Harry 
Burrard states in his letter ; it is most 
likely he had, for he had served a great 
deal in India, and it is probable that in 
India lie had obtained the patronage of 
Sir James Craig. 

Do you know colonel Meyrick Shaw ? 
—There is a colonel Shaw who has just 
been removed into the 76th regiment, I 
believe his name is Meyrick Siiaw. 

Do you recollect his being confidential 
secretary to lord Wellesley in India,then 
a major ?"I rathcrthinkthat he didiiold 
.some appointment under lord Welles- 
ley, as lord Wellesley has more than 
once recommended him to Uie notice of 
the commander in chief. 



Do you recollect, that in consequenc^. 
of his purchasing the lieutenant colonel- 
cy of a regiment not in India, he was 
put upon half pay ! — Yes, I think I re- 
collect that perfectly, that he purchased 
the lieutenant colonelcy of the 31st regi- 
ment. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

[The witness was again called in.] 

Was there any deviation from the or- 
dinary practice ot the army, in the ap- 
pointment of colonel Meyrick Shaw to 
the lieutenant colonelcy of the 76th re- 
giment I — None whatever, it was the 
constant practice ; I stated, I believe, in 
my evidence some nights ago, that it wa« 
the rule of the army that a junior officer 
should not be placed over the head of a 
senior officer 9^' the same rank, that is, 
the junior major of one regiment slumld 
not be put over the head of the senior 
major in another ; but lieutenant colo- 
nel Shaw was a lieutenant colonel, and 
he was placed on the lieutenant colonel's 
vacancy over the head of the major ; 
that is the constant practice of the aimy, 
there has been no deviation whatever lu 
it. 

Do you know what recommendation 
Mr. Samuel Carter had ibr luscnsigncy 
in the 16th regiment ? — Yes, 1 do. 

W hat is the date ot miijor Covell's 
commission as major in the ai-my ?~ 
August, 1807. 

From what date docs lieutenant colo- 
nel Shaw take rank as lieutenant colo- 
nel in the army .' — I should think he 
has been a lieutenant colonel rather 
better than three years » I have }\o doc- 
ument by mc that will state that accu- 
rately. 

Do you know that colonel Mtyricfc 
SJiHvv was a great many years a commis- 
sioned oflicer in tlie East India Compa- 
ny's service, before he came into his 
Majesty's regular service ? — I do not 
know it from my own knowk dge ; I have 
heard the very best character of colonel 
Shaw, from various officers. 

Do you know whether he was remov- 
ed to the half pay without receiving a, 
difilsrcnce ? — I believe he was. 

Is it not a regulal ion, oi- at least un('er- 
stood, that whenever an officer is placed 
upon half pay without receiving a dillier- 
enee, government is in some <lej.;ree 
pledged to place him upon full pay as 
sotn as favourable opportunity ofiers ? — 
The commander in chief has invariably 
been governed by that rule. 

Do vou know whether I fthe secretfi* 



24a 



ry at ivarj took a particular interest in 
lieutenunt colonel Soicl ? — Willi the 
grcaicsl deference to the right honour- 
able gentleman who put that question, 
I may say that he importuned me upon 
it. 

Did I Cthe secretary at tvarj impor- 
tune you to solicit his Royal Highness 
to keep that officer upon full pay, as long 
as he could witli propriety be kept in 
th;U situation ?— Yes, certainly. 
J]Tue witness was directed to withdraw. 

(^ J he witness was again called in. 3 

Dojouknow captain Brunkcr, who 
eitlier is, or lately was, paymaster of the 
5tii dragoon guards } — 1 cannot say that 
I have that pleasure. 

Do you not know that that officer, 
who is a very meritorious officer, was 
formerly a private in that regiment ? — 
1 have already said that 1 have not the 
pleasure of knowing him at all. 

Do you know Mrs. CLiik.- ? — I never 
had the pleasure of seeing iMrs. Clarke 
till I saw her at the bar of tliis House 
two evenings ago. 

In the series of correspondence whicli 
you liave read between general litirrard 
and yourself, tiiere is a letter sometime 
towards the 28th of March, wherein 
general Burrard, in the most earnest 
msnner, renews his solicitation on be- 
half of major Shaw, and a note is made 
upon tiiat, desiring to see general Bur- 
rard that evening, or early next morn- 
ing ; did you see gen. Burrard in con- 
sequence of that desire so expressed ? 
— I ^Iiink it is most certain that I saw 
him, for his next letter contains an an- 
swer to something 1 must have said to 
bim. 

On that occasion did yott suggest to 
general Bmnard, that this ap])ointment 
of barrack-master at the cape of Good 
Hope was vacant, or about to be so ? — I 
cannot slate positively that 1 did not ; I 
think it most likely that 1 did, 

Had you ever had any conversation 
witli the commander in chief upon that 
subject ; and had he (the commander in 
chief) ever expressed any earnest desire 
to provide for nuijor Sh^w ? — I do not 
recollect that the commander in chief 
expressed any desire at all ; but 1 cer- 
tainly must have had some communica- 
tion with him, or I never could have 
ventured of myself to have made such a 
proposal to Sir Harry Bm-rard. 

Did tl\e commander in chief ever 
s])eak to you upon the subject of major 
§ha>v, except when you, in the course of 



your official dttty, made representations 
to the commander in chief respecting 
major Shaw ? — Ido not recollect that he 
ever did ; btit I beg leave to state, that it 
is pressing my recollection a little hard, 
consideringthal there are elevenortwelve 
thousand officers of the ai-my, all of 
whom, or their friends, either corres- 
pond with or address me. 

Did you ever hear of Mrs.Clarke's sel- ■ 
ling,or pretending to sell commissions in * 
the army, before it became the subject 
of discussion in this House ?"Never, but 
through the medium of the numerous 
libels'tliat have been lately published 
against the commander in chief. 

Did you ever set on foot any inquiry 
into the truth of tluise sta' ements ?— I 
have already stated to the hous>;,lh:it iiv 
tlic autumn of 1804 I had understood 
that numerous abuses of this kind exist- 
ed, and I did set on foot every inqviiry 
that it w:is possible for me to do ; i as- 
certained that these abuses were prac- 
tised, and, in a letter that is now before 
the liouse, cautioned the officers of the 
army against such practices ; even sub- 
sequent to that letter, I had proof that 
such abuses did exist, and I obtained the 
opinion of eminent cotmsel, and they as- 
sured me it was not even a misdemean- 
or, and tliat I coidd have no redress ; 
upon that I reprcsctited the circura- 
btance to the then secretary at war, as I 
have already, I believe, slated in evi- 
dence to this house, and a clause was in- 
serted in the mutmy act, to impose a 
hne upon it. 

F rom what s<^nrce did you receive your 
intelligence of tlie existence of those a- 
buses ?-I rather think that the source was 
anonymous ; but upon inquiry I found 
tliat the account was true, and I traced 
it to Mr. Froome, an army broker, and 
a Mr. Hebdon, I believe a clothier in 
Parliament-street; IsentforMr.Froome; 
Mr.Froome told me that he had received 
this money ; I think it was nearly 10001. 
for the paymastership of one .of the bat- 
talions of the German legion : I thmk 
(I am speaking now from recollection,) 
that he told me also tliat he had only re- 
ceived a per centage upon the money, 
and paid the money to other hands ; after 
repeatedly pressinghlm,llhinkhe named 
Mr. Hebden. the army clothier. I sent 
for Mr. Hebden, and after some conver- 
sation, I must state to the house that I 
was not a little surprised at the imjm- 
dcnce of that gentleman, who told me 
positively that he received the money, 



S4l 



and would tell me no tnore abotit it : 
that is the proof lo which I uliudcd. 

The name of Mrs. Clurke was never 
meniioncd to jou as a party to this or 
any other similar transaction ? — Most 
certainly not. 

Did you ever disclose to the Dnke of 
York the circumstances of Mr. Hebdcn, 
and Mr. Froomc ' — Yes, I did indeed, 
and to many other people, and took the 
opinion of lawyers upon it ; which opin- 
ion, 1 believe, and all the documents 
upon it, I can, if necessary, lay before 
tliis House. 

Wha4 vvas the Duke's answer ? — The 
Duke (Jf'sired me to scrutinize it to the 
bottom, and let it fall upon whom it 
might, he would make an example of 
them. 

Smce this transaction do you know 
that Mr Froome has been employed by 
Mr. Greenwood I — No, 1 dono* ki'ow it. 

You delivered in apaperfroni M. ssrs. 
Greenwood an«l Cox, relative to the ex- 
change between Lieut Col. Knig-ht and 
Lieut. Col. Brooke, some of which you 
stated to have been written in the orig- 
inal in pencil ; how did that happen !— 
As this pa|)fr is printed, it is incompre- 
hensible almost to me : when this pa- 
per was laid belbre the Commander in 
Chief, I received his pleasure upon it, 
and I marked upon it this pencil re- 
mark, " C. L." (colonel Loraine) "can- 
not be acceded to ; his Royal Highness 
does not approve of the exchange pro- 
posed." Subsequent to that, inquiries 
were made as to the services of lieuten- 
ant colonel Brooke, on whose accoimt it 
was that the exchange was not acceded 
to. The result of these inquiries was 
such as to induce me to lay the papers 
before the Commander in Chief again ; 
and this second pencil remark is the re- 
sidt of the second representation I made 
to the Commander in Chief. 

Is it usual to make your remarks in 
pencil ? — Sometimes in pencd, some- 
times in ink. 

Were you acquainted withMr.Froome, 
or knew any thing of his situation in 
life, previous to the interview you had 
with him on the subject of this commis- 
sion ? — 1 knew iiim as a reputed' army 
broker to a great extent, and one of a 
description of persons with whom I de- 
clared open war the moment I came to 
the Commander in Chief. 

In coiisequenre of the transaction stat- 
ed by you, were any steps taken to pre- 



vent his transacting that ageticy bu«ines« 
for the army ? — I no not tmderstanil that 
he ever was authorized to transact busi- 
ness for the army, but he transacted it 
in spite of every thing I could do ; he 
was an army broker, not an agent. 

Was it not in consequence of informa- 
tion which }ou obtained upon this sub- 
ject, that those circular letters were 
written, and tlic clause in the Mutiny 
Act submitted to Parltament ? — The cir- 
cular letter was written in consequence 
of the inform.'ition I had obtained prior 
to the fact with which 1 have now ac- 
quainted the House ; the clause in the 
Mutiny act was brought into tlais House 
subsequent to that.and because 1 found 
that I had no redress. 

W as there ever any entry made of col- 
onel Kniglit's exchange not being ap- 
proved by the Commander in Chief? — 
Certainly, there was, and sent either to 
colonel Knight or colonel Brooke ; I had 
the letter in my hand the first time I 
gave evidence before the House. 

Through wliat recommendation in 
your office did Mr. Samuel Carter 
receive his ensigncy in the 16th foot f 
— Lieutenant Sutton of the royal ar- 
tillery. 

[The letter was read, dated December 
nil, IGOl.) 

*• Royal L-iboratory, Woolwich, 
" December 7th, 1801. 
" May it please your Royal Highness, 

" The kindness that your Highness 
has at all times most graciously bestow- 
ed on me, emboldens me to address you 
in the behalf of an orphan lad, nearly 
sixteen years of age, of the name of 
Samuel Carter (whose father lost his 
life in the service, and whom I have 
brought up and educated,) in hopes th.tt 
your Highness will be graciously pleas- 
ed t / appoint him to an ensigncy : a f - 
vour that I should not presume to ask 
but on the score of my long service and 
suficrings in his Majesty's service ; 
which I hope and humbly trust your 
Royal Highnr ss will take into your gra- 
cious consideration, wiio am, with all 
due submission and respect, 

" Your Royal Highness' 

" most faithful and obedient, 
" humble servant, 

" Tho. Sutton. 
" Lieut. Royal Artillery." 



2^ 



1 



g ■;;; s § > t* t, 

». § e ^ g -^ « - 

<^ c o ^ ^ e '^ 

- §-3 S g o SJ . 

fcj 4^ e _ ^ n Jj 

go » TJ ^ 
_ £ 9) t- (U (U 

Do you recollect when he was ap- 
jiointed ? — Here is lieutenant Sutton's 
•answer to the notification, which will 
elate it exactly. 
^The letter read, March 29th, 1804.] 

*' Lieutenant Sutton presents his most 
respectful compliments to colonel Clin- 
ton to acknowledg-e the honour of his 
note of the 21st instant, and begs to ex- 
press how gratefully he feels the appoint- 
ment his Royal Highness the Comman- 
der in Chief has been pleased to confer 
on Mr. Samuel Carter. 

" London, March 29th, 1804." 
*' Colonel Clinton, 
&c. &c. 

The appointment must have taken 
place there or thereabouts. 

Do you know whether lieutenant 
Sutton is dead ? — Until I looked into 
these papers, I did not know that such a 
man existed ; I have heard tliat he is 
dead. 

Are not candidates for ensigncies fre- 
quently on his Royal Highness' list for 
two or three years before they can be 
appointed ? — That depends upon the pe- 
riod ; at the period of 1801, the reduc- 
tion of the army, and the period of peace 
it was absolutely impossible to appoint 
him as the answer states : the answer 
is in substance upon the body of the let- 
ter, but here it is in length. 
[Colonel Gordon read the letter, dated 

8th December, 1801.] 
(Copy.) "Horse -Guards, 

"Sir, 8 Dec. 1801. 

" I have received the Commander in 
Chief's commands to acquaint you, in 
answer to your letter of yesterday's 
date, that from present circumstances 
it is not in the Commander in Chief's 
power to recommend any person for 
commission ; but his Royal Highness 
has directed Mr. Samuel Carter's name 



to be noted, to be provided for at a fii- 
ture opportunity. 

" I am. Sec. 1 

(Signed) "Hob. Brovinrigg.^* f 
" Lieut. Thos. Sutton, 
*• Royal Artillery, 
" Royal Laboratory, 
" Woolwich." 

I should imagine the circumstanced 
alluded to were the reduction of the ar* 
my. 

Have not you recently kno'vtm instances,"' 
ofcandidates.respecting whom there was 
no disqualification, where they have fre- 
quently remained two or three \cars 
before they were appointed? — Certainly; 
1 dare say there are a hundred upon the 
Duke's books at this moment, or two. 

Is there any subsequent recommend- 
ation of Mr. Carter ' — 1 have no other 
documents whatever on -the subject. 

When a recommendation is once in, 
is it necessary for a subsequent recom. 
mtrndation to come wlien that candidate 
is noted upon the list ? — The asual prac- 
tice is, when a person sends in a memo- 
rial, he follows it up by himself and his 
friends repeatedly, and commonly in 
person. 

Do you know the date of Mr. Carter's 
commission ? — I cannot say that I know 
the date, but it must have been between 
the 17th and 21st of March 1804. 

In the affair of the exchange between 
colonel Brooke and colonel Knight, had 
not colonel Knight previously made an 
application to be allowed to exchange 
with colonel Pleydell ? — Yes, he had. 

Was that objected to ? — Yes, it was. 

Are the documents upon that subject 
now in the office ?— I rather think they 
are. 

Did you ever hear of a person of the 
name of Hector Stray, an ensign in the 
54th regiment of foot ?— To the best of 
my recollection, I never heard his name 
mentioned before. 

Have you with you any means of ascer- 
taining whether there is such a person?— 
I have not with me, but I can ascertain 
it by eleven o'clock to-morrow morning. 

You stated, on a former examination, 
that you had frequently been in the West 
Indies ; were you not born in the West 
Indies ?---I was not, I have the honour 
of being a Welshman. 

To your knowledge, did Mr. Hebden, 
who received the 1(X)01. for thcpaymas- 
tership, ever obtain that paymastership? 
—The paymastersbip was certainly ob. 



•24S 



tained, ami that struck me very forcibly 
when I made the inquiries. 

Is it competent to you in yonr official 
situation to produce the documents of 
that appointment ?-I can produce them ; 
it will give me great satisfaction if the 
committee will do me the honour to go 
into them. 

At whose recommendation are pay- 
masterships bestowed ? — The colonels 
of the regiments, through the secretary 
at war. 

Has the commander in chief any con- 
cern with the recommendation for these 
appointments ? — None whatever, except 
the submitting them to his Majesty. 

Is it a matter of course for the com- 
mander in chief to submit to his Majes- 
ty those recommendations for paymas- 
terships, which are approved by the sec- 
retary at war ? — It is quite a matter of 
course, when approved of by tlie colo- 
nels of the regiments and the secretary 
at war. 

Does the recommendation of the pay- 
master on all occasions originate with 
tlie colonel of the regiment, or does the 
secretary at war appoint ?-I understand 
the practice to be, that the recommend- 
ation is with the colonel of the regiment, 
and it is submitted to the secretary at 
war, whose duty it is to take care that 
securities are good. 

Who was the colonel who recom- 
mended the paymaster, in the case of 
Hebden, to the paymastership ! — I real- 
ly do not know who the colonel of the 
battalion was ; it of course came through 
the head of the German legion, the 
-Duke of Cambridge. 

Wlio was the secretary at war at that 
time ? — I rather think it was general 
Fitzpatrick, I will not be quite sure. 

Is there not an express regulation, 
that paymasterships cannot be sold I — I 
understand it to be so decidedly. 

Do you happen personally to know 
Lieut. Carter ? — No, I do not, to my 
kno wledge I never saw him. 

Do you know from any correspond- 
ence that, although he was, as was ex- 
pressed upon his recommendation, a 
poor orphan, he had had a sufficient ed- 
ucation to qualify him for an ensigncy, 
being the son of a soldier who was killed 
in the service ? — Until his name was 
mentioned here last night,.! never heard 
Lis name mentioned. 

Who appoints the paymasters I — I 
have already stated, that the colonel of 
th^ regiment regoiBOiends the paymas- 



ter, the secretary at war approves of tlie 
sureties, and in that shape they come 
transmitted to the commander in chief, 
who lays them as a matter of course be- 
fore the King. 

In what year did the transaction you 
have alluded to, relative to Mr. Hebden, 
take place ? — I really do not know, but 
this I know, that it was in consequence 
of the transaction that. I was induced to 
speak to the secretary at war to insert a 
clause in the mutiny act. 

Do you not recollect whether the 
transaction did not take place before the 
appointment of general Fitzpatrick ag 
secretary at war ; whether that trans- 
action could have ever come under hi.st 
cognizance ? — I really cannot take upon 
me to state the exact date, it must have 
been there or thereabouts ; I cannot 
speak to the exact period. 

Cannot you ascertain, by reference to 
your papers, whether it was before the 
month of February 1806 ? — I cannot, 
without reference to the army list ; the 
paymaster's name was Blunderstone, of 
one of the battalions of the German 
legion. 

Do you not understand it to be a mat- 
ter of course, that the secretary at war 
should recommend any paymaster, that 
is recommended to him by the colonel of 
the regiment, provided he finds him to 
be a person fitted for the situation, and 
that he has proper security ? — Quite a 
matter of course. 

Upon what ground do you say that the 
recommendation of the commanding of- 
ficer of a regiment, for the paymaster, is 
received as a matter of course at the war 
office ? — I am called upon to answer a 
question that in no shape belongs to the 
office which I superintend, but as mat- 
ter of general information, I understand 
that when the colonel of a regiment re- 
commends a paymaster to the secretary 
at war, if the secretary at war sees no 
objection to such recommendation, and 
his securities are good, then it is a mat- 
ter of course that he recommends. 

In case the secretary at war should 
disapprove of the securities, what is then 
the process ? — I beg to repeat that I am 
answering questions in no way connect- 
ed with my office, but as matter of gen- 
eral information I can state, the secre- 
tary at war would then return it. 

Would not the colonel then have an- 
other recommendation which mightmeet 
with approval ?— Certainly. 
[TUe witness was dfrectedtp wifhdravr. 



242 



[The witness was as^uin called in.] 
ProtUice tludi ( iiinfias re spue ting the 

resignation of m:ijor 'i urnev. 

[Colonel Gordon d( livered them in, and 
the foUowinjj pa])ers wci-e read : Let- 
ter from Messrs G.-eenwt^od and Cox 
to colonel Gordon, dntedCr;iig''s -court, 
5th of September 1808.— Letter from 
captain Turner, dated Canterl)ury, 
26lh of Aiif^ust 1808.--Letvt^r from 
lieutenant Sit well, dated Canterbury, 
26th of August 1808.] 



i 



(Copy) 
" Sir, 



" Craig''s -court, 
5 Sept. 18U8. 
" Wc are directed by Lieut. ji,eneral 
Cartwright, to enclose the resign;ition 
of Brevet m:ij.Turner,for the sale of his 
troop in the 3d or king's own i-egiment 
of dragoons, which we request you will 
be pleased to lay before field manial his 
Royal Highness the commander in cliief, 
together with the recommendation of 
lieutenant Sitwell to succeed thereto, 
the purchase money being satisfactorily 
settled, and no senior lieutenant in the 
legiment having signified an intention 
«f purchasing. 

«' We have, &c. 
(Signed) *' GrcenxvooJ, Cox 0" Co." 
" Lt. Col. Gordon, 
&c. Stc. &.C. 

(Copy) 

" Canterbury, 
•• Sir, 26 August 1808. 

•• I beg you will be pleased to ob- 
tain forme his Majesty's consent to the 
sale of my commission of captain in the 
od or king's own regiment of dragoons, 
which I purchased. 

" In case his Majesty shall be gra- 
ciously pleased to permit the same, 

" 1 do declare and certify, upon the 
word and honour of an officer and a gen- 
tlcm.-in, that I have not demanded or 
accepted, neither will I demand or ac- 
cept, directly or indirectly, at anytime, 
or in any manner wliatever, more than 
the sum of SloOLljoing the price limited 
and fixed by his Majesty's regulation, as 
the fvdl value of the said commission. 
'* I have the honour to be, 
Sit, 
Your most obedient, 
humble servant, 
(Signed) Whichcote Turner, 

Captain." 
'• Officer commanding 3d or 
King'i own Rcc:. of Drag-." 



(Copy) 

" Canterbury, S5 August 1808. 
" Sir, 

" I beg yon will be pleased to ob- 
tain for me his Majesty's permission to 
purchase the troop, vacant in the 3d"or 
king's own reg-iment of dragoons, (vice^ 
Turner who retires ; the senior lieuten- 
ants having declined purchasing. 

" In case his Majesty shall be g«t* 
ciously pleased to permit me to 

" I do declare and certify, upon tlwi* 
word and honoiu'of an officer and a gen- 
tleman, that I will not, now or at any* 
future time, give by any means, or in- 
any shape whatever, directly or indirect- 
ly, any more than the sum ot 31 501. being 
tlic price limited and fixed by his Ma- 
jesty's regulation, as the full value of 
tlie said commission. 

♦' I have the honour to be. 
Sir, 
Your most obedient, 

and most humble servant, 
(Signed) R. S'tPxell, 

Lieut. 3 Drag." 

" To the commanding officer, 
3d or King's O. Reg. of Drag." 

" I beg leave to recommend the above, 
and I verily believe the established reg- 
ulation in regard to price is intended to 
be strictly ctimplied with, and that no 
clandestine bargain subsists between the 
pai'ties concerned. 

(Signed) " W. Cartwrigiitf 

Lt. General." 

What is the meaning of that mark 
*' Put by ?" — Put by for the present, un- 
til further inquiries were made ; the 
correspondence will explain it. 

[LettersignedLucySinclair Sutherland, 
dated London, 5th of Septemberl808. 
— I..ctter from colonel Cartwright, 
dated the 14tli of September 1808.— 
Letterfrom colonel Cartwright, dated 
the 18th of September 1808.— Letter 
from major Turner to colonel Gordon, 
dated S3d September 1808.— Letter 
from m.ijor Turner to colonel Gordon, 
dated tli'e 7th of November 1808. — 
Letter from colonel Goixlon to Mr. 
Turner, dated the 8th of November 
1808.— Letter from Mr. Turner to 
colonel Gordon, dated the 15th of 
December 1808. — Letter from colonel 
Gordon to Mr. Turner, dated the 16th 
of December 1808.] 



S45 



(Copy) 

«' PortmaiTi-slrcct, 
" Sir, 5 Sept. 1808. 

*• 1 think your lloyiil Hi{>liiie.ss will 
rc:ulilycoiii|)ly wilhthefi)llowing'triiliii}jf 
reciutst I liiko the lihorty of'innking. It 
18, not to accept the rcsigiiiilion ofiuiijor 
Turner of the 3il or Kuip's own drap- 
oona, in fuvour of Lieut. Sitwell, till 
March. He hiis beluivcd with unkind- 
ncss towards a lady who merited diilicr- 
ent treatment ; and it is of ;mjK)rtimoe 
to her to know wlierc to find liim for 
these six months ; and if he quits the 
reg-imeut he means to secrete himself 
from her. Besides, it is not quite hon- 
ourable for an oflicer to wish to leave 
the army while his regiment is under 
orders for embarkation. Your Koyal 
Highness will therefore perceive he does 
not merit indulgence. The general 
knows all about it, and can corroborate 
what 1 say, if necessary. 
• " Major Turner depends on Col. Gor- 
don to expedite his resignation ; 1 de- 
pend on your Royal Highness to prevent 
iiis obtaining it for some months. I flat- 
ter my self such a triHing and just request 
you will not refuse. 

" I have, &c. 
(Signed) ♦• Lucy Sinclair Sutherland" 



» (J 2 ". 

^ £ £ 

P P. 

(Copy) 

«• Burley, 14th Sept. 1808. 

"Dear Colonel, 

" In reply to your inquiries respecting 
the scrape into which it appears that 
captain Turner of my regiment has got 
with some woman of moderate repute, 
I have to say, that I am entirely ignorant 
of every thing which relates to tliis mat- 
ter ; but, for your satisfaction, will en- 
deavour to inform myself of ])articulars, 
which, when obtained, Bhall be trans- 
mitted to you. 

" Your's, &c. 
'-'(Signed) " W. Cartwrisht.'* 

"■•' Lt. Colonel Gordon, 
&c, &c. kc. 






(Copy) 
Private. 

" Aynho, 22d Sept. 1809. 
" Dear Colonel, 

" 1 trust that the following extract 
of a letter from Lt. Col. Mundy will do 
away any unfavoiu'able imiJiession that 
may have been taken, to the prejudice 
of major Turner, of the rej^inunt under 
my command ; and that the business of 
his resignation may, in conse(]uence, bo 
allowed to go forward without furthcl* 
delay. 

•* I remain, &c. 

(Signed) " JV, Cartxvright, 

" Lt. Col. Gordon, Lt-Gcn.'? 

8tc. &c. &c. 

" Extract." 

" In no one instance have I ever had 
occasion to be dissatisfied with the con- 
duct of major Turner since he has been 
in the King's own dragoons : on tho 
contrary, I have always found him to be 
a perfectly gentlemanly, honourable man. 
I believe he has, unfortunately for his 
own peace of mind, formed a connexion 
with an artful woman, who has brought 
him to much trouble ; but I conceive 
this is a circumstance which can on no 
accoimt warrant the putting any obstacle' 
to his views of retiring. 



■ a 

*' Private.*' 

" Canterbury, Friday, 
"Dear Sir, 23d Sept. 1808. 

'* I am just favour'd with a letter fron* 
Lieut, colonel Mundy, informing of me, 
my resignation is accepted, and the bu- 
siness will be forwarded without delay. 
I can with truth say, I have turned my 
fortieth year, and never had my honour, 
or character called intjuestion, until as- 
persed by Mrs S When I arrive 

in London, I will wait upon you, and in- 
form you how Mrs. S is inthe habits 

of making imi)roper mention about his 
llwyul Highness. Ir\ canseqicnce •£ 



.32 



240 



wliat has happened, and in consideration 
of mv long' services, I shall consider it 
as a (i^reat compliment, if 1 may be al- 
lowed to retain mj rank as major. I 
Ijfiiher ask for half pay, or future pro- 
motion ; nor should I ever have made a 
request, had it not have been for ihevery 
unpleasant communication. 

" I remain, &c. 
(Signed) *« JV. Turner." 

'* Lt. Col. Gordon," 

&C. &C. &G. 



(Copy) 

"Sir, Ipswich, 7th Nm-. 1808. 

*' lam in possessu)n of facts wuich 
places it beyond a doubt that his Royal 
Highness the Commander in Chief did, 
influenced b) Mrs. Sinclair, prevent for 
a wlulc my retiring from the service. 

" I appeal to you. Sir, if I merited the 
effect which such unjust interference 
protluced, after having passed the great- 
er and best part of my life in his Majes- 
ty's service. 

" Before I left Canterbury, I vi'roteto 
you, stating to you my earnest request 
tJiat I might be peiwitted to retire from 
Uie service, retaining my rank in the 
army, to which I received no answer. 
Agreeable to my promise, I endeavour- 
ed to obtain an interview with you when 
I was in London, but 1 was disappoint- 
ed, owing to some informality in my ap- 
plication to those in attendance under 
you. I therefore beg leave to repeat my 
request upon the subject of retaining my 
rank in the army : the length and nature 
of my services, I am convinced, will be 
a suthciently strong claim : without re- 
verting to the late transaction exercised 
by Mrs. Sinclair, I beg to assure you. 
Sir, it's the farthest from my disposition 
to take any steps injurious to his Royal 
Highness the Commander in Chief's 
conduct. I request you will do me the 
honour to acknowledge the receipt of 
this, and your answer will regulate my 
future proceedings. 
" I liave, &c. 
(Signed) " Whichcote Turt.er, 

" late of the 5k\ or Kmi^* own Drag. 
" and mujor in the ai*my." 
" To Col. Gordon, &c. 



(Copy) *' Horse-Guards, 

" Sir, 8th Nov. 1808. 

" 1 have to acknowledge your letter of 
yesterday, which I have not failed to ay 
before the Commander in Chief ; and I 
am commanded to acquaint you, that on 
a complaint being made against you by 
a Mrs. Sutherland, in a letter, of which 
the enclosed is an extract, his Royal 
Highness felt it his duty to cause inqui- 
ry to be made into the circumstances of 
the case, before any decision could be 
given upon your request to retire from 
tJie service. 

" The result of that inquiry being 
honourable to your character, as appears 
from the enclosed correspondence from 
the colonel of your regiment, the com- 
mander in chief had no further difficulty 
in submitting yoiu- resignation to his 
Majesty, and which was accordingly 
done in due course. 

" Upon the subject of retaining your 
r.ink in tiie army, I have to communicate 
to you that tlie commander in chief has 
it not in his power to meet your wishes, 
the request being contrary to the rules 
of the service, and has not in any simi- 
lar instance been acceded to since the 
Duke assumed the command of the ar- 
my. 

" I have, &c, 
(Signed; " J. W. Gordon, 

" W. Turner, Esq. 
Ipswich." 

(Copy) " Bury St. Edmund's, 

" Sir, 15 Dec. 1808. 

'• I am preparing to lay before the 
public a staiement of his Royal Highness 
the Duke of York's conduct towards me. 

" I beg leave to assure you, I shall 
make use of your name as seldom as 
possible, and that with the utmost deli- 
cacy. Mrs. Sinclair Sutherland i.as of- 
fered to join me in a publication against 
his Royal Highness the Duke of York, 
which I positively declined. When I 
t.i\ed Mrs. S S. witli having taken steps 
njurious to m\ retirement from the ser- 
▼ ce. having traced her letter into his 
Royal Highness tlie Duke of York's of- 
fice, Mrs. S. S. stoutly denied hyving 
exerted herself in Impeding my resig- 
nation. Mrs. S. S. acknowledged she 
had written to his Ro>ai Highness the 
Duke of York, but it was upon the sub- 
ject of suppi-essing a publication : 1 am 
unnble to say which pamphlet, the one 
addressed to the King, styled the- 



24r 



Ban Dogs, or Mr. (late major) Ho- 
g'an's. 

*• I have, 84C. 
(Signed) "W.Turner." 
" Colonel Gordon, 
&c. &c. &c. 

(Copy.) 

*' Horse-Guards, 
"Sir, 16 Dec. 1808. 

" I have to acknowledge your letter of 
j'esterday, acquainting me, that you 
were preparing to lay before tlie public 
a statement of his Royal Highness the 
Duke of York's conduct towards you, 
and assuring me that you should use my 
name as seldom as possible, and that 
•\vitli the utmost delicacy, 

" In thanking you for liiis assurance, 
which 1 presume your recollection of 
former acquaintance in private life has 
induced you to make, I feel it my duty 
to relieve you from any delicacy upon 
that point, and most decidedly to ex- 
press my wish, that whtnever you or 
your friends may think tit to mention my 
name, as bearing upon any pul)lic trans- 
action in wluch 1 may have borne any 
pa]*t, you will have the goodness to use 
it, free from any reserve whatever, and 
publish all or any of my letters tliat may 
be in any manner connected with it. 
■' I have, &.C 
(Signed) "^ TV Gordon." 

,,j,J* P. S. I take it for granted, that you 
naye received my letter of the 8ih No- 
vember, addressed to you at Ipswich." 
" W. Turner, Esq. 
Bury St. Edmunds." 

Do you know Mrs. Sutherland ' — Un- 
til I saw her name to that letter, I never 
recollect having heard of it before, and I 
never saw her in my life. 

Do you know whether Mrs. Sinclair 
and Mrs. Sutlierland are the same per- 
son ! — 1 have understood that they were 
so. 

You stated in your examination on a 
former night, tliat any interference of 
the Duke of York, the Commander in 
Chief, with respect to exchanges, would 
be extremely futile ; do )ou nt;.kt ilie 
same observation as to any interference 
of the Duke of York with respect to re- 
signations ? — I beg pardon ; but witli 
g^eat deference, I never said any such 
thing ; I will state what I did say, and 
explain if necessary. 



[The following extract was read iroiri 
the printed minutes.] 

" ^ In aiiy conversation that you 
have had upon the subject of this ex- 
change, with the Commander in Chief, 
do you recollect a wisli being expressed 
that the conclusion of the exchange 
might be expedited ? — A. No, certainly 
not, the expression of such a wish would 
have been very futile, for it would not 
have expedited the exchange one half 
instant ; it would have gone on in the 
usual course." 

Do you mean that any application on 
the part of the Commander in Ch.ef 
would have been more futile in regard 
to the expediting of that exchange ti an 
any other ? — Tiiere appears to be some 
misconception m this, which 1 will en- 
deavoiiFlo explain': oivretieience to my 
former exaniination, it will be seen that 
the papers were laid before the King 
but once a week, and that after the 
Commanded m Cliierspleasure haii been 
finally obtained upon the exchange or 
upon any thing, then the expression of 
his wish to further that, would nothaxe 
furthered it one half instant, it would 
have gone with the King's papers thitt 
week ; tiiat was wlu.i I meant to say» 
and I hope 1 did say it. 

Then the futility to which you allude, 
only refers to the time after the Com- 
mander in Chief's pleasure has been 
taken ? — Most certainly ; that is, it the 
Commander in Chief's pleasure is taken 
on Wednesday, and that it is the due 
course to serd in the papers to the King 
on Friday or Saturday, the Comman^ler 
in Chief's desire to me to expedite would 
not cause that paper to be sent in to the 
King on Thursday ; that it was I mean. 

Then any wish expressed by -the 
Commander in Chief, to expedite an ex- 
change previous to that period, might 
have the eflect ot expediting that ex- 
ciiange, might it ' — 1 really can only an- 
swer that as I have already answered 
before : tliat when I laj a paper before 
the C(jmmander m Chief and receive his 
pleasure upon that paper, with him it is 
final, and it goes before the King in the 
due course ; 1 mean to say again, that 
the Commander in Chief desiring n;c to 
send in that paper would not expedite 
it, it would n(-t go separate, it would go 
witli the other jiapeis. 

Do you mean, that if an exchange is 



24S 



in suspense in the office, an expression 
used b} the Commander in Cluef, of a 
■wish to expedite that exchangee, would 
have no eflect whatever ? — O, no, I do 
not mean that ; it roost undoubtedly 
would. 

Have you ever known any other in- 
stance of this sort of inlei'ference like 
that of Mrs. Sutherland ? — 1 cannot bring 
such to my recollection ; but 1 can say, 
tliat if that letter had been anonymous, 
the very same course would have been 
adopted. 

Had you any conversation with the 
Commander in Chief respecting that 
letter ? — I do not think I had, farther 
than this ; I think it will be found, on 
reference to the papers, that the resig- 
nation is dated the same day with Mrs. 
Sutherland's letter, in which case it is 
probable that I submitted it totlie Com- 
mander in Chief at the very s.ame period 
that he opened tlie letter ; I perfectly 
recollect the Commander in Chief put- 
ting- the letter into my hands, and desir- 
ing me to inquire into it. 

Do you mean, that the resignation is 
dated the same day that the letter is 
dated ? — I believe so. 
fit appeared on inspection, that the let- 
ters of Messrs. Cox and Greenwood, 

and of Mrs. Sutherland, were both 

dated the 5th February.] 

When was the resignation forwarded 
to major Turner ? — As it is dated on the 
5th, and from the agent's office, it is 
inost probable, I received it on that day, 
and most probably laid it before tlie Com- 
mander in Chief, in my usual course, 
tlie next day at furthest. 

When was the resignation accepted ? 
— That is also dated in red ink tipon the 
back ; it was approved by the King on 
the 23d of tlie same month ; it came in 
on the 5th. 

Did tlie Duke of York state to you 
that he knew Mrs. Sutherland ? — No, he 
did not. 

Nothing about her ? — Nothing what- 
ever. 
[|The witness was directed to withdraw. 

Mr. WILLIAM NICHOLLS was 

called in. 
Examined by the Committee. 
Do you live at Hampstead ?-^Yes. 
Did Mrs. Clarke live at your bouse at 
Hampstead, at any time as a lodger ? — 
Yes. 

What time did she come ? — In Octo- 
ber. 



What year ?—180r. 

How long did siie stay there ? — Till . , 
the 25th June following, or thereabouts. I< 

When she came there, did she repre- J i 
sent herself as a married woman or as a 
widow ? — As a widow. 

Did she at any time during her con- 
tinuance there represent herself in an- 
other character ? — Yes. 

Upon what occasion ? — I understood 
that she was married to Mr. Dowler. 

How did you understand that ? — She 
told me so. 

Did Mr. Dowler come to her there 1 
—Yes 

Was it upon the occasion of his com- 
ing to her, that she represented herself 
to be his wife ? — Yes. 

Did she give any reason for calling 
herself by the name of Clarke, while 
she represented herself as married to 
Mr. Dowler ? — She stated her reason to 
be, that if the Duke of York knew that 
she was married, he would send Mr. 
Dowler abroad. 

Was Mr. Dowler there frequently dur- 
ing her stay ? — Yes, very frequently. 

You have said that Mrs. Clarke rep- 
resented herself as a widow ; in what 
way did she represent herself ; did she 
tell you she was a widow ? — Yes, that 
her husband was dead three years. 

When did she tell you that ? Some 
time after she was in the house ; per- 
haps two months. 

When did she come into your house 
first ?— In October, tlie latter end of Oc- 
tober. ' "■ 

When did she tell you she was mar- 
ried to Mr. Dowler ?-"Soon after Mr. 
Dowler came to Hampstead. 

When did Mr. Dowler first come to 
Hampstead ?— I forget the time, it was 
soon after the expedition I'eturned from 
Buenos Ayres. 

Did she go by the name of Mrs. Dow- 
ler ?— No. 

Did you believe that she was the wife 
of Mr. Dowler ? Yes. 

Did Mr. Dowler often sleep in the 
house ? Yes. 

Was there a French lady in that house ? 
Yes. 

What was the name of that lady ?— 
Josephine, I think they used to call her ; 
I did not know her name exactly. 

Of how many people did Mrs. Clarke's 

family consist ? At first when she came, 

herself, capt. Thompson, and this French 

lady. 

Any children ?- Afterwards there were. 



249 



How many children ? — Two, some- 
timi's lliree. 

How many bed-chambers had Mrs. 
Clarke in your house ? — Four or five ; 
she occupied the whole house almost. 

Do you know whether this Freuch la- 
dy slept with Mrs. Clarke ? — No. 

Is your wife with you now ? — Yes. 

Is slie here ? — Yes. 

Had you ever any correspondence with 
Mrs. Clarke ? — I do not understand the 
question. 

Did Mrs. Clarke ever write to you, or 
you to Mrs. Clarke ? — Yes. 

Do you recollect when Mrs. Clarke 
last wrote to you ? — Yesterday. 

Did you receive a letter from Mrs. 
Clarke yesterday ? — Yes. 

When was the last time, before yes- 
terday, tliat you received a letter from 
Mrs. Clarke ? — I do not know exactly. 

Have you that letter in your posses- 
sion ? — No. 

What is become of it ? — I gave it to a 
gentleman, a professional man. 
' To whom ? — To Mr. Masters. 
■ What is Mr. Masters ? — An attorney. 

With what view did you give it to 
Mr. Masters ? — With a view for him to 
write to her. 

Upon what subject ? — For a sum of 
money which she owed me. 

What were the contents of that letter ? 
— I applied to Mrs Clarke in town, to 
ask her to pay me my bill, when she was 
not to be seen. I told the house keeper, 
unless she settled the account with me, 
I should dispose of some instruments of 
music that were left, in part to satisfy 
me. The same evening, I received a 
letter, threatening that she knew I had 
forged a will, wherein I held an estate. 
Immediately I took the letter to Mr. 
Masters, telling him that it was all a 
falsehood, and desiring him to insist up- 
on getting my money, and to despise 
her threats. 

Was it in consequence of the threat 
contained in that letter, or in consequence 
of the debt which Mrs. Clarke owed 
you, you gave that letter to this profes- 
sional gentleman ? — In consequence of 
the threat. 

How long was this ago ? — I do not ex- 
actly know ; I suppose July last, or 
thereabout. 

Have any steps been taken in conse- 
quence by that professional gentleman ? 
— He wrote to her, and has received no 
answer ; and I do not think any thing 
else has taken place since then. 



Have you ever continued to apply to 
Mrs. Clarke since that ?— No, never. 

Did you ever receive any I'ent from 
Mrs. Claike ? — Never. 

In that letter, did she say that you had 
forged this will, and that she could hang 
you ? — I do not exactly know the words, 
but something to that effect. 

You state that you applied to your 
lawyer upon that subject ; why did he 
not proceed agidnst Mrs Clarke ? — I 
thought she owed me enough money al- 
ready, and I did not like to throw good 
money after bad. 

Do you ever recollect saying, you 
would be up with her for this I — No, 
never to any body. 

Do you recollect, that, at any time, in 
consequence of this business of the will 
spoken of in the letter, your wife and 
you parted ? — Never. 

You do not recollect your wifeleavmg 
you upon that or any other occasion ? — 
No. 

Have you, in your possession, any let- 
ters that belonged to Mrs. Clarke ? — Yes. 

Have you any objection to producing 
them ? — I should not wish to produce 
them, unless I should be satisfied what 
she owes me, unless by the request of 
the House. 

[The witness produced a bundle of let- 
ters.] 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

[The witness was again called in.] 

State how you came by those letters I 
— They were sent down to light tlie fire 
with. 

By whom ? — By Mrs. Clarke. 

Did she desire those letters, when she 
sent them down, to be bui-nt ? — They 
were sent down merely to light the fire 
with ; they were not given to me, they 
were put into the closet, and the maid 
servant used to take them out of the 
closet as she wanted them. 

Do yon recollect, at the period these 
letters wei'e sent down, Mrs. Clarke 
burning a gi'eat number of letters ?— I 
understand so ; 1 did not see her burn 
any. 

Vou have read niany of these letters ? 
— I have read them since this business 
has been in hand. 

Are \ou aware that any of these let- 
ters relate to the circuni.slances that had 
been under the consideration of this 
House ? — Yes, I think they do. 
[The witness produced two other bun- 
dles of letters.] 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 



250 



f The witness was again called in.] 

Have you in your pocket tlic whole of 
the letters you took out of the house ? — 
Yes. 

Produce them. 

[The witness produced them.] 

Were you advised not to deliver those 
letters to Mrs. Clarke ? — No. 

Is that your hand- writing ? — Yes, it is. 
[Letter from Mr. Nicholls to Mrs. 

Clarke, dated 13th February, 1809, 

read.3 

" Madam, " I3th Feb. 1809." 

•♦ 1 received yours respecting ^youi* 
letters ; and on turning tlie matter in 
my mind, I don't know how far I am 
authorized to give them even to you, as 
having been applied to from another 
quarter on tlie same business ; and as I 
most certainly shall be obliged to attend 
the House of Commons, I will look tliem 
all up and produce them there. 

" In fact, I think you ought to settle 
my account before you ask me for any 
thing. 1 am vour obedient servant, 

" Mrs. Clarke." " JV Ktcholls." 

From what other qnartcr was it you 
were applied to for the letters ? — From 
no other quarter ; I was waited upon by 
a gentleman on the same business, but in 
turning it in my mnid, I did not know 
that I was even to give tliem to any per- 
son, without the consent of the House 

Wlio was the other gentleman ? — I do 
pot know his name. 

Are you certain you do not know his 
name ? — I do not know his name. 

Did 30U know his name yesterday ? — 
No, I did not. 

Did you tell me (Mr. Wardle) his 
name yesterday ? — I do not recollect that 
1 did, I am confident I did not know his 
name. 

Recollect yourself — I am confident I 
did not know his name. 

Did you not tell me (Mr. Wardle) his 
name was Wilkinson ? — I believed it 
was Wilkinson, but I mistook the name, 
and I do not know the name now ; the 
person who came mentioned the name of 
Wilkinson, but it was not the person's 
name wno came to me ; thou{,h I might 
say it was Wilkinson to Mr. Wardle, I 
was mistaken. 

Do you mean to say, that the person 
who came said he was sent by Mr. Wil- 
kinson ? — He mentioned the name of 
Wilkinson, but 1 am not certain in what 
way lie used that name. 

Whom did this person say he came 
from .' — He came from Mr. Lowten. 



Whoever it was he came from, did he L 
ask for any particular letter, or only ap- J 
plied to you upon the general subject { 
— He said nothing about letters. 

What did you mean when you wrote 
that you had been applied to upon the 
same business from another quarter ; 
what do these words mean ? — I meant 
the business of this inquiry. 

Did the person coming from Mr. 
Lowten request that ynu would not pro« 
duce those letters ? — No, he knew no- 
thing at idl about letters. 

What did he ask for ?— He asked me 
some questions uboiu Mr. Dowler. 

Did this conversation relate to nothing 
but Mr. Dowler ? — Mr. Dowler and 
Mrs. Clarke. 

What did he say upon the subject of 
Mrs. Clarke ? — I forget almost what he 
asked me < he asked me a few questions 
about them, and I told him that she told 
me she was married to Mr. Dowler. 

What did he say upon the subject of 
papers ? — Nothing at all. 

Why then do you assign this person 
having called upon you from Mr. Low- 
ten, as the reason for not returning the 
letters to Mrs. Clarke ? — For no reason 
for the person having called on me from 
Mr. Lowten ; but on turning the matter 
in my mind, I thought it most prudent 
to do so. 

Then why liave you stated in your 
letter, that this person having called 
upon you was the reason for not return- 
ing the letters to Mrs. Clarke »— In turn- 
ing it in my own mind, I thought that I 
might be censured by the House, under- 
standingthat Imust attend thisHousefor 
delivering those letters to Mrs. Clarke. 

Had you, at the time of writing that 
letter, received an order from the House 
to produce these letters ? — No. 

Did the person who came from Mr. 
Lowten desire you to keep back those 
letters, and to suppress them ? — He said 
nothing at all about them ; he did not 
know that I had a letter, to my knowl- 
edge. 

At the time you saw that person, had 
you received an order to attend this 
House ? — No. 

What made you suppose that you 
shoidd be obliged to attend this House ? 
Because the gentleman, who came, said 
he supposed I must attend tliis House. 

Have you seen that person since yes- 
terday ? — Yes. 

Where ? — I saw him ; he came t« 



251 



llampstead to-day, and I came to town 
■with him. 

Did he goto Humpsteadto fetch you 1 
Yes. 

Did he cavry down the summons to 
attend Uiis House ? — No. 

How came you to come to town with 
him ? — He came there after I received 
the summons; I did not expect he would 
come tlicre. 

riis name is not Wilkinson ? — No. 

Do you know wliat his name is ? — I 
aliouki know wliat his name was if 1 
heard it ; I have heard it to-day, but do 
not recollect it. 

Is it Williams ? — No. 

Did he say any thing to you to-day 
about the letters ? No, he knew I had 
the letters to-day. 

But he did not speak to you, upon the 
subject ? No ; I believe his name is 
Wright, but I am not sure. 

You stated in the former part of your 
examinations, that you believed Mrs. 
Clarke was Mr. Dowler's wife ; did you 
ever apply to Mr. Dowler for the satis- 
faction of your debt ? Never. 

Why did you not ?— I had not an op- 
portunity. 

Did you ever seek for an opportunity ? 
No, I do not know that I ever did ; I was 
not anxious about the business ; I did 
not suppose but what I should be paid. 

In what profession are you ; — A baker 
by business. 

How long have you lived in Hamp- 
stead ? — Eight or nine years. 

You are a housekeeper there ? — Yes. 

You have stated that you believed Mrs. 
Clarke was Dowler's wife, and you have 
also stated, that she told you when she 
came to Hampstead she was a widow ; 
did you suppose the marriage with Mr. 
Dowler took place at Hampstead ? No. 

Why then did you believe that she was 
Mr. Dowler's wife, when she had pre- 
viously told you she was a w.dow ? Mrs. 
Clarke left my house and went to town ; 
when she retin*ned, Mr. Dowler return- 
ed with her, or near that time ; it was 
after that time that Mr. Dowler was in 
the habit of coming, that she told me 
she was married to Mr. Dowler.' 

You have stated, that you received a 
letter yesterday from Mrs. Clarke ; what 
are the contents of that letter ? — 1 have 
it in my pocket. 

f The letter was read.] 

" Mrs. Clarke will esteem herself 
greatly obliged to Mr. Nicholls, if he 
will send, as he has /promised, all her let- 



ters by the bearer, who she sends hi com - 
pliunce with the arrangement made by 
him two hours ago. ' 
•' Monday, one o'clock." 

" Mr. Nicholls, 

opposite New End, 
Hampstead." 

Who was the bearer of that letter ? — 
I do not know who it was, a servant oa 
horseback. 

What did Mrs. Clarke mean by the 
arrangement ? 1 suppose she means the 
conversation between Mr. Wai'dle and 
myself on the subject. 

Repeat, as nearly as you can that con- 
versation I — Mr. Wardle called on me, 
-to apply for those letters, and I told Mr. 
Wardle, I was not inclined to give them 
up ; in fact, 1 sliould not think fit to 
give them up without an order from the 
person to whom they belonged. Mr. 
Wardle left me, with the supposition 
that I should deliver the letters up when 
I received an order from Mrs. Clarke ; 
but on turning it in my mind, I did not 
think fit to give them up even then. 

When did Mrs. Clarke know that you 
had these letters ? — I do not know how 
she knew it ; perhaps I might mention 
to some one tiiat I had these things.and 
it miglit come to her knowledge by th.- 
means. 

Mr. JOHN REID was called in, and 

Examined by the ConiDiittee. 

Where do you live ? — In Saint Mar- 
tin's-lane. 

Do you keep an hotel in Saint Mar- 
tin's lane ! I do. 

Do } ou know Mr. Dowler ? I do. 

How long have you known him ? — 
About two years, 1 believe ; 1 cannot be 
exact to the time. 

How long has Mr. Dowler frequented 
your house ? About two years. 

Do you recollect his coming there at 
any time with a person whom he repre- 
sented to be his wife .' 1 do. 

When ? At all of the times he was in 
town, at some time or other. 

Has he been frequently at your house 
With a person whom he represented a« 
his wife i Not very frequently. 

Do you know who the lady was whom 
he so represented as his wife ? I do not. 

Was It the same person that always 
came with him ? The same person. 

When was that person last at your 
house, that you knew her to be there ? 
I think last Friday se'nnight, the day 
that Mr. Dowler came totowji. 



252- 



You do not know wiio that laOy is ?— I 
have he;u(i, bill 1 ilo not know of iny own 
know lo(li;;e. 

litis Mr. Dow lor sdppliod nnv lnuly with 
vine from jom- liouso J — No, Mr. Dowlcr 
has had some wine Irom my house. 

Whori' liiis that wim- hcon sent to ?— 1 be- 
lieve sonu-wlu-re l>y Hoilfor<l-st|iiaro, 1 ibitik, 
but 1 ilo not reeolK-ct ; if I Itud oxitictc.i to 
he asked the i|tiesliou, I would have made 
jnvself sure of it. 

"Did the lady who came with Mr. Dowler, 
go l>y tlie n:imc tif .Mrs. Dow ler ? — Ci rtaiidy 
she did, or slic woidd not have been in my 
itouse. 

Was Uic person who was with Mr.Dowler 
on Friday se'night, at your house, the lady 
who used to be with hiu\ under the name of 
^Irs. Dowler ; — The same. 

Did you ever hear lur p;o bv any otlier 
Hame but tl»at of -M rs. Dowler ?--IMo. 

Did yiui ever aildress her yourself by the 
xianu" of Mrs. Dow ior .' — I (lid. 

Di«l she answer to that name I Most cer- 
tahdy. 

Arc yon sure it was on Friday se'night 
♦hat this liuly vasat your house for the last 
time ! The last tiuu- that 1 sjiw her. 

Are you sure as to the day .' To the best 
wf my reoollecliun. 

Are you sure it was the day Mr. Dowler 
arrived in town ? I think it was. 

Are you certain of that fact ? As well as 
]^\ memory serves me, 1 am. 

"Have you seen that lady any v here in the 
neighbourlu»od of this House since you came? 
i have not. 

She passed as Mrs. Dowler on that eveu- 
ins ? Vos, she did. 

Have you ever heard Mr. Dow ler call her 
Wy the name of .Mrs. Dowler ? Yes, 1 have. 

And she answered to that name ? Yes. 

[^The witness was directed to withdraw. 

GKORC.F. nOlUXSON was called in, ami 
F.xamined l)y the Comiuittee. 

Arc vou the norter at Slaughter's Hotel ? 
Yes. 

Do yon know Mr. Dowler ? Yes. 

How lony, have you known him ? From 
the time that he returned fivnn the expedi- 
lion that came luune from Huenos Ayres ; 
tluit was the fii"st knowledj^v I had of him. 

Did you ever see w ith him any lady that 
he called by the name of Mrs. Dowler .' Yes. 

At vour master's house ? Yes. 

Livu)^ with him theiv ? For a short time. 

As his wile ; Yes, as his wife. 

Do )ou know who that lady is ? Yes. 

\\ ho is it ? She «^es by tlic name of Mrs. 
Clarke, to my knowleilgx". 

How ilo you know that ? By the public 
talk T have hoard tliat of her ; nothing fur- 
ther. 



Have you ever been to her house I Yes, 
in Hodford-plaee, loading from Bloomsbury- 
sinuire to Uiissel square. 

Was there any name upon Iter door there ? 
Not to the best of my recollection. 

Did you ever carry her any tiling there : 
Yes. 

What ? Wine. 

From your master's ? Yes. 

W ho ordered tliat wine ? I received the 
order from my master. 

Have you seen her at your master's house 
lately ? I have not. 

Have you seen her since Mr. Dowler's re- 
turn from Spain ? 1 have not. 

Have you seen Mr Dowler tliei-c since ? 
Yes, 1 have. 

To whom was the wine directed to he car- 
ried ? Mrs. Dowler. 

To be carried to No. 14, Bedfoixl -place ? 
Yes. 

You would know the lady if you saw her? 
Yes, I believe 1 shoibl<l. 

Have you ever seen her at any other place^ 
or carried wine to her any where else ? Yes. 

W/»ere ? At the end of theKing's Road, I 
believe it is c^lledWestcott buildinj«i,«r some- 
thiiiivof tliat sort, leading to Sloane-square. 

W liat name tlid you carry it to tlicre ? 
IVIrs. Dowler. 

When? I miRlit say I believe it was the 
ISth 01- 14ih of December last. 

Who oi-<lered that wine ? I am not sure. 

QThe witness was directed to witlidraw.J 

SAMUEL WELLS was called in, and ex- 
amincd by the Conjmittee. 

Are you a w aiter at Slaughter's coffce- 
hoi!so ? 1 am 

Do you know Mr. Dowler ? Yes. 

Do you know ]Mrs. Dow ler ! By name. 
Have you seen her ? By the name of Mrs. 
Dow ler I have seen her. 

Have you heard her called by that name ? 
I have. 

W hen did you see her thcr« last ? It 
might be about eight days ago. 

Do you recollect the day of tlie week ? 1 
cannot. 

In whose company w as she i With Mr. 
Dowler. 

How long did she st.ny thei"e .' One night. 

Do you hajipen to know what the real 
name of that lady is now ? Not till I had 
seen it in the jMiper. 

Have you seen her any where else ? N» 
wliere else but at our house. 

Did you ever deliver a letter to this lady, 
dii"ected to Mi-s. Dowler ? No, I have not- 
Was Mr. Dowler ever there with any other 
ladv except this ? Not to my knowledge. 

tl'he witness was directed to w ithdraw. 
he Cliairmaii was directeil to report 
pi-ogiess, and ask leave tosii a-'-iin."] 



i5d 



February 15, 1809. 



Mrs. MART ANN CLARKE was 

culled in, and 
Examined by the Comtnittee. 

Do you know the hand writing of 
Sanuicl Carter? — Yes, I do. 

Do you know that to be his hand- 
writing ! — Yes, I do. 

Is tliat also [another letter^ h'la hand- 
writing ?— Yes, and that also [^a third 
letter"] 

Have you ever seen him write ? — 
Yc9, 1 have, many times- 
Do you know the hand writing of 
general Clavenng ! — Yes, 1 do. 

Have you ever seen him write ? — 
Yes, 1 h.ive, many times. 

Do yo" know that to be his hand- 
writing ? 1^.1 letter being shewn to the 
wit-iess.J — Yi!S, it is, £three other letters 
being shexun to Mrs. Ctarh'.'} These 
also are general Clavering's hand-writ- 
ing. 

Is tliat tlic hand-writing of baroness 
Noilekcn ? \_a letter being nhewii to the 
ii'itness^ Yes. 

Is that also? {^another letter.'] — It is. 

Did you ever sec the baroness write ? 
— Yes, I liave; and that also [_a third 
letter] is lier hand- writing. 

Did you ever see Mr. Elderton writ«? 
—There are three Mr. Eldcrtons. 

Did you ever see the Mr. Elderlon 
write by wliom tiiese letters are sub- 
scribed ?— Yes J I goi lun> a paymaster- 
aliip in the 22d liglit dragoons ; these 
three are all his liand- writing; it is the 
eldest Mr. Eklerton. Before I leave 
the house I beg leave to say, I never, 
in my life told Mr. Nicholls lliat I was 
married to Mr. Dowler, and that the 
duke of York would send hiin al)road, 
nor any thing of the kind. I ratluM- think 
he has been bribed by Mr. Wiltinscm. 

[The following Papers were read:] 
"Hon. Madam, 26tl» Sejn. 1804. 

** I wrote to the inspector-general 
(Gwynn) for leave of absence on tlie 14th, 
hut received no answer, wliich has 
thrown me into a great dilemma, hav- 
ing tliis morning been put in orders to 
hold myself in readiness to do duty in a 

33 



day or two. Tlie adjutant informs me, 
if I have not my regimentals ready wlieu 
called upon, 1 si'.all be put under an ar- 
rest. Permit me, madam, to hope that 
your goodness (which 1 have experienc- 
ed so often in the greatest degree pos- 
sible) will extricate me from so un- 
pleasant a situation, by obtaining me 
leave of absence speedily. 

*' Hon. Madam, tlie favour of a line 
would tend to disjicrse those fears which 
have been some lime prevalent witl» me, 
wliich was occasioned by your silence, 
(vi/. ; that some part of my conduct liau 
olTended you : from gratitude, I say 
with energy, God Almighty forbid. 
••Accept, madam, 

"The sincere thanks and acknowl* 
edgements of your grateful friend, 

SAMUEL CARTER. 

"Note. Having wrote to his Royal 
Highness for leave, I received an an- 
swer, directing me to apply to the in- 
spector-general. 
" Mrs. Clarke, 18, Gloucester-place, 

Portman-square, London " 

•• Isle of Wight, 2(1 Oct. 1804. 

" I was extremely sorry in not having 
had it in my power to wait imtil yoi* 
came in from the baron's, in order to 
thank you for tl:e kind benevolence I 
have ever experienced from you, and 
which has made so deep an imprcssioa 
on my heart and mind as not to be eras- 
ed by time. Honoured madam, I hav^ 
still to beg the continuance of that be- 
nevolence ; for, having placed me in a 
situaticm which requires a great num- 
ber of expensive tilings at first, and 
notwlthstaiullng liavlng laid out m'/ 
money to the greatest economy, I fiif^d 
it inadequate. I have now the oHlir of 
a barrack-room (which will save the e''^- 
pense of lodgings) but I have no cot, ov 
any money to buy one ; neither have }■ 
any to subsist on till the 24tli. If, 
Madam, you will extend your kindness 
toward me once more, it will ever be 
gratefully rememl)ercd. 
"IJy Madam, your sincerely thankful 
ficrvanl. .SAMUEL CARTER. 



254 



" Hon. Madam, I have set the things 
down which I bought, bj which you will 
see the state of my purse. 

" Belt and feather - - 1 8 
I "To sword and sash - - 
" Gorg-et and sword-knot 
" Paid Lewis - - - . 
" Do. laundry maid - - 
" Do. tayior's bill - - 

" Trunk 

" Gloves and stockings - 
*• Silk handkerchiefs 
V Round liat trim'd - - 1 14 
** Watch from pledge • 2 3 
" Boots and shoes - - 5 10 
♦' Expences down - - 2 5 
•' Borrow'd at depot - 6 2 
** To jacket and trimmings 4 5 

£41 19 6 

*' jifrs. Clarke, 18, Gloucester-place, 
" Portman-square, Londo/t." 

" Clqrendon, Transport, Spithead, 4th 
"Hon. Madam, ya>i.lSQ5. 

" Impelled by my dreadful situation, 
and my perfect knowledge of yovir good- 
ness, I trust J ou will pardon the liberty 
of addressing you again. 

" Since my last, the embarkation has 
taken place, and I am now on board in 
a situation, not to be described. You 
can form abetter idea of it than in my 
power to express. 1 have no stock for 
the voyage, neither have I any money to 
purchase those little things which are ab- 
solutely necessary. 1 have to keep watch 
four hours every night, and have nothing 
to eat but salt meat three times a week, 
and water to drink, the rum being so 
bad, 'tis impossible to drink it. 

*' A'our goodness to me has ever been 
Such as leaves not the smallest doubt 
that you will not suifer me to starve in 
the sitiuition you have been pleased to 
place me, and which is such as will ever 
tend to m; ke me the most grateful and 
happy of beings. 

" Should, Madam, you be Induced 
>^» take into fonsideratlon my wretched 
' ISO, and by a little pecimiary aid save 
^ < n every thing that is horrible, it will 
M act worthy of yourself, and im- 
1 1 liat upon my heart which will never 
!• ■ • rased. 

" I .im, Madam, 

" Your grateful servant, 
•• Sam. Carter. 
"Be so kind as direct the let'ers to be 
- kft at the Post-office, Poitsmoulh. 



" P. S. We shall lay at Spithead this 
fortnight. Having received orders to 
sail to Cork this morning, 1 have opened 
the letter, in order to pray you would 
direct to Cork, but we only stay there ^ 
24 hours, as the convoy is appointed. 
"Mrs. Clarie, 18, Glo'ster pLce, 
" Porttnan-square, London," 

" Bishop's JValtham, 30 ^une, 1804. 
" My dear Mrs. C. 

" Where your note of Wednesday has 
been travelling, as it only arrive'"d here 
this morning, I have no notion, and it 
had not reached Conduit- street at five 
o'clock Wednesday afternoon, when I 
quitted town. The disappointment is 
provoking, as I particularly wished to 
have seen you. But we must console 
ourselves in tlie hope of more fortunate 
times. 

" Very truly your's, 

"M. Clavering. 
" Mrs. Clarke, 18, Glo'ster-place, 

"Portman-square, London." , 

" Bishop's JValtham, 5th Sept. 1804, 
" My dear Mrs. C , 

"You mention that his Royal High- 
ness did not comprehend my proposal ; 
my idea was this : the Defence Act, ar- 
ticle 30, states, " that men to be raised 
by tliat act, are not compellable to serve 
out of the United Kingdom, and islands 
immediately attached." And in 32, 
" that they shall not remain embodied 
formore than six months after the peace." v 
We have already experienced the fatal 
necessity of disbanding corps, at an ap- 
parent conclusion of war, and the mis- 
chiefs arising from holding out tempta- 
tion to men to extend their services. 

" My proposal then was, to raise a 
battalion for general and unlim,ited ser- 
vice, by the voluntary offers of a stipu- 
lated number of men from each regi- 
ment, of militia, at a certain bounty, in 
the same manner as some of our regi- 
ments were augmented during the last 
war. The battalion to be solely officered 
from the half-pay list, by which govern- 
ment woidd at once acquire a certain ef- 
fective and well-disciplined force, whose 
services they can to anyperiod command, 
the half pay to be lightened, and the mi- 
litia colonels have no reason to growl, 
since it is determined that their estab- 
lishment is to be reducedjtowards which 
the men so volunteering would conduce. 

" Should an opportunity occur, do 
submit the plan to his Royal Highness, 
without arguing too strongly upon it, as 
he must be tired to death witli proposals ; 



255 



and as I would not appear, even through 
so circuitous a channel, to trespass on 
his patience, when so recently under an 
obligation for my present appointment. 
** If you approve of dry reading, get 
the defence act to refer to, and do com- 
municate all the good things in the good 
town. 

" Always very truly year's, 

"H. M. Clavering." 
" My dear Mrs. C " 28 Sept. 

" I shall not pursue the partridges on 
the first of September ; on tlie contrary, 
propose being in L(mdon in the course of 
the morning and beg you will send me 
word at the Prince of Wales' coffee 
house, whether you can receive me in 
boots about six, or later, if you please. 
" Vei'v truly your's, 
"H.'M. Clavering." 
'• Mrs. Clarice, 18, Gio'cester -place, 
" Portman-square, London." 

Bishops s Waltham, 11 Nov. 1804. 
• " My dear Mrs. C. 
*• The purport of this is to thank you 
for your attempt to serve me, tho' im- 
successful,the inclination being the same. 
On Sunday next I propose being in 
town, if possible for one day only. Can 
you so contrive that we shall meet ? 
" Your's very truly, 
" H. M. Claveuing. 
" Mrs. Clarke, 18, Glo'cester-place, 
" Pottman-square, London." 

" Bishop's Waltham, 12 Dec. 1804. 
•' My dear Mrs C. 
** There is a strong report, that some 
new regiments are about to be raised, 
which, tho' incredible, I will be obliged 
to you to ascertain the truth of, and to 
acquaint me soon as possible. W. O. 
left me this morning for town, to return 
again next week. 

«« Very truly your's, 

" H. M. Clavering. 
" Mrs. Clarke, 18, Gloucester -place, 
"Portman-square, London.'* 

Mrs. MARY ANN CLARKE was 

again called in, and examined by the 

Committee, as follows : 

Through what influence did you get 
the paymastership for Mr. Elderton ! — 
The Duke of York obliged Mr. Green- 
wood to give it, very much against Mr. 
Greenwood's wishes. 

Was it any military matter which the 
Baroness NoUeken wrote to you ? — No, 
it was not. 
f]The witness was directed to withdraw. 

QThe witness was agai;i called in.] 



In consequence of the Baroness NoUe- 
ken's letter, did you apply to the Duke 
of York upon the subject of that letter ? 
— Yes, I did, but I do not know wliat 
that subject is ; there are several wishes 
the Baroness had, that I applied about ; 
I shewed all her letters to him. 

You have stated, that the Duke of 
York obliged Mr. Greenwood to give the . 
paymastership to Mr. Elderton, much, 
again.st l.i consent ; how do you know 
that ? — His Royal Highness told nic so 
himself; and very likely Mr. Greea-- 
wood will say so too. ■ c 

Look at those letters again, and say ^ 
whether they are all written by the same 
person ? — Those are her letters (No. 41 
and 119 ;) when she was illhereldest son 
wrote for her ; I should rather think this 
(No. 127) is iicr eldest son's writing 

Didyou ever see the eldest son write ? 
— Yes, I think I have ; but I canHot be 
positive lis to his hand-writing ; only I 
know the Baroness h:.s frequently told 
me that she had ordered icr st-n tu write 
to me when she lias been ill. 

Is the lelier which you say was written 
by the soit of the Baromss, one ol lh'')Se 
which you just said was written by the 
Baroness herself ? Yes, it is one of those ; 
but you will allow that I had not a mo- 
ment to look over it ; and another thing, 
those letters have been taken wit'^out 
my consent, tiid . I have not looked at 
them myself ; I had sent them down to 
be burned, and never thought they would 
come forward again, and this is near a 
twelvemonth since. 

Do you mean by the eldest son of the 
Baroness Nollekm, Mr. Le Maitre ? — 
No, Gustaviis NoUeken. 

Have you ever seen him write ? — Yes, 
I have seen him write, I think ; but I 
cannot be positive as to his hand, any 
further than ! said before, that he used 
to write his mother's notes. 

Do you mean to say that those letters 
were written only twelve months ago ? — 
No, I suppose there are dates to them, 
to shew when they were written. 

Do you know the hand-writing of any 
other son of Baroness NoUeken ? — No ; 
1 was acquainted with the two sons, but 
I do not know the writing ; the youngest 
son WHS in the Guards, and was very 
seldom with his mother ; the other was 
always with his mother, and a great deal 
with me. 

Then you cannot positively state that 
this s^he hand writing of any one son of 
the Baroness NoUeken in particular J— 



256 



No, I cannot ; perhaps it is the Bai'on's 
writing ; he used to write to me. 

In short you do not know whose hand« 
writing it is ? — I hardly looked at it ; I 
know pretty well what the subject is, 
and whence it came ; the Baronet want- 
ed a pension of 4001. a year, and, if I 
recollect right, that is the letter about it. 
[TheWitness was directed to withdraw. 
£The following Papers were read :] 

'* My dear Madam, 
** Notlilng but the pardonable anxiety 
which I naturally feel for the welfare of 
a child, should induce me to presume to 
trespass upon you at present. 

" You know my boy Charles, he is a 
fine youth, with a finished education. 
His appointment to a cadetship in the 
infantry for Madr^ was contirmcd this 
morning, and I shall engage him a pass- 
age on board the Ocean, which will 
sail from the Downs in about five days. 
■ " Charles must leave town for Forts- 
•mouth, and go on board on Wednesday 
next. 

" Do you think, my dear madam, that 
his Royal Highness the Duke of York 
will condescend to honour him with let- 
ters of recommendation to 
Lord William Bentinck, Governor of 

Madras, and to 
majovgeneral SirJohnFrancisCraddock, 
K. B. the commander in chief there ; de- 
siring them to exchange him from the in- 
fantry, and place him in the cavalry ? 

" If you will confer upon us both the 
very great favour of soliciting his Roy;d 
Highness to deign to confer upon us this 
distinguished obligation, it will for ever 
remain deeply engraven upon the grate- 
ful hearts of Charles Elderton, and of 
*• My dear Madam, yoiu-'s very sincerely, 
*' Friday 18 Jan. " Hy. Elderton. 
" I have this moment received a sum- 
mons to attend Mr. Greenwood, who 
has heard from Scotland, and desires me 
not to make any preparations Jor a voy- 
age. I fear all is over in that quarter, 
but I shall know to-morrow, and will 
immediately afterwards wait upon you. 
** Mrs. Clarke, 18, Gloucester place, 
" Portninn-squnre." 
*' My dear Madam, 
** I fancy you are (and I sincerely hope 
you ever will remain) a perfect stranger 
to anxiety, otherwise I think you would 
not have left town on Friday, without 
first gratifying me with a reply to my 
last. 

" Perhaps you will have the goodness 
to introduce the subject to the notice of 



His Royal Highness on Monday evening, 
and so enable yourself to oblige me on 
Tuesday morning with such an answer 
as may serve to guide the conduct of 
** Your faithful servant, 

" Hy. Elderton. 

*' 21 Portman-streetf'^d Dec. 
" Mrs. Clarke, 18, Glo'cester -place, 

Porf}nan-square," 
" Sir, 

" It is infinitely beyond the power of 
language to convey to your Royal High- 
ness an adequate idea of the extent of my 
gratitude for the great favour which you 
have deigned to confer upon me, in con- 
firming the leave of absence granted to 
me by sir Robert Abercrombie. Your Roy- 
al Highness has niised me from the most 
profound despair to happiness, and I shall 
never cease to bless your Royal Highness 
for your gracious condescension and 
goodness towards 

" Your Royal Highness's 

•• Most devoted servant, 
" Hy. Elderton. 

« 17tk April, 
" His Royal Hightiess the Duke of Tori, 
&c. &c. 
" Glo'cester -place, Sept. 22. 
" My dear Madam, 

" I am this moment favoured with 
your very kind letter ; this fresli mark of 
your friendship gives me great pleasure. 
I hope the change of air has perfectly 
restored your health, and that I shall 
have the satisfaction of seeing you return 
to town in as good looks as ever. My 
dear Baron,with his best respects to you, 
begs you will have the goodness to as- 
sure H. R. H. of the deep sense of grati- 
tude he feels for the Duke's gracious 
remembrance of him, and thinks with 
you that His Mty would be more liberal 
to him than Mr.—— — —if he dare pre- 
sume to judge from His Mty's. goodness 
to him for these forty years past, on eve- 
ry occasion. I hope the weatlier has 
been as fine at Margate as in London : 
it has, thank God, quite restored my 
health. I flatter myself you will favour 
me with a visit on Wednesday, any time 
most agreeable to you to name ; for, be 
assured I enjoy very sincerely the pleas- 
ure of your society, exclusive of the 
gratitude I shall ever feel for the kind 
interest you take for me and mine. 
Adieu, my dear Madam. 

" BVlieve me your's roost truly. 

" M. NOLEKEN- 

«' Mrs. Clarke, EoyaL Hotel, 
Margate, Kent." 



257 



" Deal- Madam, 
«' I see by the piipers, that the D . . . 
was with tlie King yesterday morning, 
and that Mr. Pitt had a private audience 
of his Majesty, I therefore indulge a 
hope that my request may liave been 
thought of ; do then, my dear Madam, 
inform me in what state of forwardness 
it now stands, when and by wliom my 
letter was given, and how received. 
Pardon my giving you the trouble of an- 
swering me all these questions, but the 
very kind pait you have taken in this 
business assures me you will pardon me, 
and think it but natural I should feel 
anxious in a matter of so much conse- 
quence to me and mine. A thousand 
thanks for the carp you were so good as 
to send me yesterday, and with my 
kindest wishes, be assured, 

" My dear Madam, 
" I remain most sincerely, 

♦• Your most obliged, 

" M. NOLEKEN. 

" Thursday, Five o'clock, 
Mrs. Clarke, 18." 

THOMAS WALKER was called in, 
and examined by the Committee, as 
follows : 

Did you live with Mrs. Clai-ke in 
Gloucester-place, as coachman ? — Yes. 

Do you recollect a footman there, of 
the name of Samuel Carter ? — Yes- 

Was Samuel Carter in *he constant 
habit of waiting at dinner, while he Wi. ; 
there ? — Yes, he was. 

Do you know Miss Taylor ? — Yes, I 
do. 

Have you frequently seen her in 
Gloucester-place ! — Yes, I have. 

Do you recollect and know whether 
Sam. Carter was in the habit of going 
behind the carriage ? - Yes, he did. 

Were you head coachman at Glouces - 
ter-place ? — I was. 

How many horses did Mrs. Clarke 
keep ?--Someiimes six, sometimes eight. 

How many carriages ? — Two. 

Never more ? — No more at one time. 

Do you ki ow who pi'ovided the keep 
for the horses ? — Mrs. Clarke. 

Did she pay the bills ? — As far as I 
know, she did. 

Were they paid through you ?— — No, 
they were not. 

Did Samuel Carter wear a livery ? — 
No, he did not. 

How do you know that Samuel Carter 
ever waited at table ! — I waited at the 
same time. 



Did you ever wait at table when the 
Duke of York was there ? — I did. 

Did you wear a livery when you wait- 
ed at table ? — 1 did not. 

When Samuel Carter went behind the 
cannage, did he go behind the carriage 
without a livery ? — Yes, he did. 

Had Mrs. Clarke any livery ft)r any 
of her servants ? — Yes, the footman. 

Did you wear a livery when you drove 
the carriage ?-^I certainly did. 

Did you know with whom Sam. Car- 
ter lived before he came to Mrs Clarke \ 
—I understood he was along with Capt. 
Sutton. 

Did you ever see him at Mrs. Clarke's 
when he was Capt. Sutton's servant ?— 
I did not 

When you said he was along with 
Captain Sutton, did you mean that he 
was Capt. Sutton's servant ? — I did not. 

When he lived at Mrs. Clarke's, did 
he dine with the other servants ? — He 
did, for any thing I knew. 

Did you dine with the other servants ? 
— I did not. 

Were you upon board wages ? — Yes, 
I was. 

Did you ever hear whose son Samuel 
Carter was supposed to be -' — I never 
did. 

How many more servants did Mrs. 
Clarke keep ? — Sometimes six, some- 
times seven. 

You have stated that you waited at 
table ; do you recollect Miss Taylor 
dining there when you waited at table ; 
I recollect when his Royal Highness and 
Mrs. Clarke dined together, there was 
another lady. 

Do you know who that other lady 
was ? — I do not. 

Do you mean that you do not know or 
do not recollect ? — I do not recollect. 

Do you know Miss Taylor ! — I do 
noM'. 

You have stated before, that you 
knew Miss Taylor : are you cei iin you 
ever saw Miss Taylor in Gloucester- 
place ? — I am certain I have. 

What did you understand Samuel 
Carter was to Capt. Sutton ? — I never 
heard what he was. 

You do not know that he was not a 
servant ? — I do not. 

How long have you lived with Mrs. 
Clarke ? — About'three years. 

With wliom do you live now ?— With 
Mrs. Clarke. 
£The witness was directed to withdraw 

[The witness was again called in.l 



258 



When did you first live with Mrs. 
Clarke ?— At the time that his 'Royal 
Hig'hness came to Gloucester-plure. 

Have you lived with her continually 
ever since ? — I liave not. 

When did you leave her?— After Mrs. 
Clarke left Gloucester-place. 

When did you return to her service ? 
About six weeks ago. 

You did not live with her at any time 
between her leaving Gloucester-place 
and six weeks ago ? — A little while she 
left Gloucester-place. 

Did Samuel Carter very frequently 
po behind the carriage ? — Not more than 
once or twice. 

How long had Samuel Carter lived 
■with Mrs. Clarke ?— I think about a 
twelvemontli, to the best of my knowl- 
edge. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

WILLIAM M'DOWALL w^as called 

in, and examined by the committee 

as follows : 

Did you live with Mrs. Clarke as 
footman in Gloucester-place ? — Yes. 

Do you recollect the name of the 
other footman that was there at the 
same time ? — His name was Carter ; by 
the name I cannot say any further. 

Did you and the other footman of the 
name of Carter, do, your work together ? 
Yes. 

Do you know Miss Taylor ? — I know 
a lady of the name of Miss Taylor, but 
I cannot recollect her, there are so 
many of the name. I cannot say that I 
know any thing particular ; I know the 
lady that used to gtjdown to Weybridge 
of that name ; that is M I can say. 

Do you recollect that Miss Taj-lor 
being in Gloucester-place as well as at 
Weybridge ?-I cannot say ; I have known 
a lady of the name of Miss Taylor that 
Msed to call there, but I cannot say that 
I should know her. 

Do you recollect the lady whom you 
Kpeak of as Miss Taylor, thelady that 
was at Weybridge, being at Gloucester- 
place ? — Yes, I do by that name. 

Do you recollect Miss Taylor ever 
being at Weybridge when the Duke of 
York was there ? — I cannot say, the 
Duke of York might be there : but I 
cainiot speak to that, for the reason, be- 
cause I do not know it. 

Were you in the habits of going to 
Weybridge with your mistress ? — Yes. 

Did you ever see the Duke of York 
there ?— Yes, I cannot sav but I did. 



Yo\i also state that you have seen Miss 
Taylor at Weybridge ; can you recollect 
whether you ever saw Miss Taylor at 
Weybridge at the time the Duke of 
York was there ? — I have told that be- 
fore^that the Duke of York might be at 
Weybridge, for any thing that 1 know. 

Was Carter employed in any other 
manner, except waiting at the table ?— 
Yes, he was employed as a servant : 
when I went into the house, he acted as 
a servant, as far as I know. 

Did he dine with the other servants ? 
Yes. 

Did Carter act in the same capacity, 
as a servant, as yourself ? — 1 suppose so; 
he did the work along with me, that is 
all I can say. 

Do you live now with Mrs. Clarke ? 
No, I do not. 

Are you in place now ? — Yes, I am. 

With whom ? — With Mr. Johnson. 

What yrar did you live with Samuel 
Carter at Mrs. Clarke's ? — That 1 cannot 
recollect : 1 cannot say, justly. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

[The witness was again called m.] 
What year did you live with Samuel 
Carter at Mrs. Clarke's ? — I told you I 
could not recollect. 

Was it in the year 1808 ? — I cannot 
recollect ; I cannot call it to my memo- 
ry ; I can guess very nigh ii, tliough. 

What do you guess ? — I cannot say 
justly : I can tell the year partly. 

What was the year ? — I told you be- 
fore I did not recollect, and Icannotsay 
the date, for I do not remember it, and 
therefore it is of no use for mc to say 
the date. 

You have said you know the year 
partly ; state wlietlier you can at all 
recollect the year. — No, I cannot. 

Was it four years ago ? — Yes, rather 
more than that, I believe. 

Was it six years ago ? — If I could re- 
collect the date, I then shoidd have no 
occasion to say I did not know it. 

You do not know whether it is tlirec 
years ago or six ? — I do not know in- 
deed, I h.ive said that before. 

Did you wear a livery when you lived 
with Mrs. Clarke ? — Yes. 

Did Samuel Carter wear a livery at 
that time ? — No, he did not wear a liv- 
ery during my time. 

When did you quit Mrs. Clarke's ser- 
vice ? — You ask me a question which I 
cannot answer, because 1 cannot recol- 
lect the time .- I never took an account 
of the time I left tlie house. 



259 



At what time did you pet your suni- 
ntons to attend lliis lioiiHc '. — I did not 
■ct tliat down even, I fbig-ot that even ; 
I know what day I got the notice to 
come. 

At what time did you get the notice 
to come liere ? — I cannot justly tell'thc 
hour. 

Wus it to-day or yesterday ? — I re- 
ceived the notice ^o attend the House, 
and I paid tiiat respect to attend the 
House accr)rdingly as I was or<U;red. 

When did yoti receive the notice ? — 
I recfeived it on Monday, and I received 
one this aitcjiioon. 
£Tljc witness was directed to withdraw. 

Mrs. MARTHA FAVERY was called 

in, and examined hy the Committee, 

H.s follows : 

Did you live with Mrs. Clarke as 
house-keeper, in Gloucester-place ? — 
Yes. 

Do you recollect a footman there of 
tlie name of Sam. Cai-ter ? — Yes. 

Was Sam. Carter in the constant hab- 
it of waiting at table on the Duke of 
York, and Mrs. Clarke and her compa- 
ny ? — Yes. 

Do you know Miss Taylor ? — Yes. 

Was MisH Taylor in ibe liabit of being 
often in Gloucester-pl.ice with Mrs. 
Clarke and the Duke of York ? — Yes. 

Do you recollect any thmg witii re- 
gard to a note being changed^ just before 
the Duke went to Weymouth, and Mrs. 
Clarke to Worthing f— Yes, I do. 

Slate what you know about that. — I 
know tl>at the Duke's servant came in 
in the morning, and 1 gave him this note, 
but I do not know tJie number of it, 
Bor what note it was, and he returned 
again about eleven o'clock, and gave 
me the money : I took it up stairs, and 
then the Duke was in tiie bed-room, 
and Mrs. Clarke : in short, they were 
in bed. 

Do you recollect who that servant 
was ? — A German, Ludowlck. 

Was Sam. Carter in the habits of 
sharing the duty of a footman with tlie 
other man i — He cleaned the knives, 
cleaned the plate, attended the carriage, 
and waited at table on his Koyal HigJi- 
ness. 

Was not the house in Gloucester- 
place to your knowledge kept at a great 
expellee ? — It cerlaiidy was : there were 
sometimes two men cooks, somelimes 
three men cooks. 

Do you incuu tUat those cooks were 



on any particular occasion of dinners, or 
when do you nu an that tliere were two 
or three nun cooks I — When t lie re was 
a particular dinner, there were three 
men cooks, sometimes more Mrs. 
Clarke always wished to have her din. 
ners go up in the best manner, to please 
his Uoyal iligliness ; and if there wast 
any <linner found fault with by his Koyal 
Highness, she would have another. 

Have you often known Mrs. Clarke 
distressed for money during that perioil t 
She never could pay lier debts properly 
after the first quarter : people were 
teazing me to pieces for inoney,und say- 
ing that 1 kept it. 

When did you first live with Mrs. 
Clarke ? — Wiien .she went to live in 
Glouces1.er-[)laec 

Had you known Mrs. Clarke before 
that time i — Yes. 

How long bad you known Mr.-j. 
Clarke ? — I lived with her before hIk; 
went to Gloucester place : 1 have known 
her these ten years j more than that. 

How niiieb more ? — I caimot exactly 
say bow nuich ntore. 

Have you known her twenty years ? 
— No, 1 have not known her twenty 
years. ' 

Where did you first know Mrs. 
Clarke? — I knew her at Hampstead ; I 
went to be a servant to her there. 

Did you not know her before that 
time ? — Yes, 1 went about six weeks 
after she was married, to liv(; with Jier. 

After she was maiTied to Mr. Clarke I 
Yes. 

Did you live wit!) her from tliattimf; 
till she went to GloiiccHterpla«:e ? — No, 
I lived with her three or l<>ur times 
since ; I went away, and came buck tn 
her. 

Who first recommended you to Mvf 
Clarke ? — 'I'hc paper. 

Do you mean by an advertisement '.— 
Yes. 

Diti you know nothing of Mrs. Clark<- 
till you saw that advertisement ? — No, 
I did not. 

Did you live with her at Qlouccster- 
plaee I — I went with her to Gloucester- 
place ; from Tttvistock-place • to Glou» 
cesler-place. 

T''en you lived with her in Tavistock- 
plac' ? — Yes, I did. 

Where did Mrs. Clarke live before 
she went to Tavistock-placc 1---1 do nol^ 
know ; I did not live with her ail that 
time. 

Oo hot you Iqiow where she lived all 



m 



that time ? — No, I yras in the country 
with another family. 

With what family were you in the 
country ? — I am not obliged to answer 
tliat. 

Yes you are.— It is a family who are 
dead. 

' Who were they ? — One Mr. Ellis. 
■ Where did he live ? — In the city. 

What part of the city ? — He was a 
carpenter. 

In what part of the city ? — I really do 
not know the name of the street, I can- 
not recollect it, it is so \ovg ago. 

How long did you live tliere ? — Two 
years. 

If you lived two years in the same 
street, you must know where they lived. 
— It was not in the same house, it was 
in lodgings. 

Where were the lodgings ? — I cannot 
tell. 

In how many different places did they 
live while you were witli them ? — They 
had different apartments ; they kept 
shop in one part of the town, and had 
apartments in another. 

What part of the town did they keep 
a shop ?— I cannot recollect indeed ; I 
was at Brighton and Margate witli tliem, 
and in different parts about. 

What other parts beside Margate and 
Brighton ? — I was at Ramsgate, and 
many little places about, tliat I did not 
think about. 

Was it upon parties of pleasure the 
family went to Margate and Brighton 
and Ramsgate ? — No, they were all ill, 
the unstress and children and all ; they 
went for their health, I suppose. 

Thcv went to these different places 
for their health ? — I suppose so, I can- 
not say what they went for particularly : 
I do not know their concerns. 

Then why do you suppose they went 
for their health, if you know nothing 
about it ? — I should tliink so, if they 
went to those places. 

How many did the family consist of ? 
Four. 

Ml', and Mr*. Ellis ' — Yes, and two 
children. 

Any servant but yourself ? — No. 
Who was left in the shop while they 
were absent ? — I cannot say, I an^ sure 
I do not know. 

You say they kept a shop in one part 
of the town, and had lodgings in anoth- 
er ? — Yes. 

In what part of the town was the 
ahop !— I really do not know, I did not 



coiicei-n myself witli the shop, I never 
went there. 

In wlvat part of the town were Uie 
lodgings ? In some of tlie streets near 
Cheapsidc, but it is out of my memory 
entirely ; when I leave a place I never 
trouble it again. 

You have said that they lived in more 
places than one in London, what other 
place can you recollect besides the street 
near cheapsidc ? — I really cannot recol- 
lect any thing at all about it ; I do not 
know any thing about it. 

In how many different lodgings did 
tliey live in London, while you were 
with them ? — I cannot say ; they left 
me till I went to Brighton : I went to 
Brighton with the children. 

Did they live in two, three, or four 
different lodgings ' — I cannot answer 
that question indeed. 

Did you go to Brighton 'with the 
children, without Mr. and Mrs. Ellis ? 
Yes, I did indeed. 

Did Mr. and Mrs. Ellis come to you 
there ? Yes, they did. 

How long did they stay there ? I be- 
lieve they were tliere about three months. 
Where did you live at Brighton ' — I 
will tell you as nigh as I can : opposite 
the sea ; but I do not know the name of 
the street, though I was there. 

When did you go to Margate ? — Re- 
ally I cannot tell you such a question as 
tliat, I do not keep that in my head • I 
do not know. 

Where did they live at Margate ?— 
In tlie High-street. 

Are Mr. and Mrs, Ellis dead ?— Yes, 
so I heard. 

And the children ? — I do not know, I 
never inquire after them. 

What reason had you for not choosing 
to mention this family ! — I have no rea- 
son at all, I answer as nearly as i 'can 
recollect. 

Do you know Capt. Sutton ? — I did, 

but he is dead ; he has been dead two 

years, I believe, I cannot recollect that. 

Was not Samuel Carter supposed to 

be his natural son ? I cannot tell. 

Did you never suppose that I No ; 
I cannot tell what other people sup- 
posed. 

Carter did not wear a Uvefy ? No. 
You have stated that there was a very 
expensive establishment in Gloucester- 
place ; did his Royal Highness at any 
time give you any money to defray the 
expenses of that establishment ? — He 
never gave me any in his life. 



5fil 



Did any body belonging to him ? — 
No, noi- liny body belonging to him. 

Wlierc did Mrs. Clarke live when you 
lived with licr first ? — At Hampstead. 

Was tliat prior to your living willi 
Mrs. Ellis l->-lt was before. 

Then how comes it that you recollect 
the place you lived in with Mrs. Clarke, 
and not to recollect wliere you lived 
with Mrs. Ellis afterwards ? — Because I 
lived longer witli Mrs. Clarke than I 
did with those people. 

Did you not live two years with Mrs. 
Ellis- ?— Yes, I did. 

Do you mean the Committee should 
understand) that you do not recollect 
wiiere you lived two years with Mrs. 
Ellis ? — No, I do not ; I was at Brigh- 
ton, Margate, and Ramsgate ; and other 
places ; and I suppose tliey were like a 
great many people, in debt, and went 
about in consequence, if 1 must tell the 
truth ; but it is not the thing to tell fam- 
ily aflairs. 

You have said Mrs. Ellis kept a shop 
in one part of the town, and lodgings in 
another ; now you tell the Committee 
you were living about all the time ; how 
do you reconcile thai ? — They may go 
about, his wife may, and he may keep 
out of the way, or stay at home, I can- 
not tell how they manage those things. 

Are you not related to Mrs. Clarke ? 
—No. 

Do you mean to deny that you are 
Mrs. Clarke's sister ? — I do ; I am not 
Mrs. Clarke's sister, 

Did you pay any of Mrs. Clarke's ser- 
vants wages ?— Yes, I did. 

What were the wages you paid Sam. 
Carter ? — I really cannot say what I 
gave him. 

Did you ever pay Sara. Carter any 
wages ? — I have given him money a great 
many times, when he has asked for 
money to buy himself shoes and things 
he wanted. 

Do you recollect whether there was 
any agreement made for wages ? — No, 
1 do not. 

Youhave stated, that you were house- 
keeper to Mrs. Clarke, and superin- 
tended a very large establishment, and 
had two or three cooks at particular 
times ; what number in general did you 
superintend, and havo to provide for ? — 
I am sure I cannot say ; there were al- 
ways very elegant dinners went up, and 
what they could not do, came from the 
pastry-cook's ; there were four men in 
f he stable, a butler, and two footmen, two 
34 



cooks, a laundry-maid, a hotise-maid, a 
kitchen-maid, and another little girl tliat 
worked at her needle, and myself, and 
a chairwoman to wash one day m the 
week. 

You have mentioned that there were 
very considerable embarrassmchls hap- 
pe^ed, and that you liavc been applied 
to for money, and have been supposed 
to keep it instead of paying the different 
creditors ; did you tell lier of those dis- 
tresses, and aj)ply to her for money ; and 
if so, what answer did you get ?-■ I did 
inform her ; she said that his Royal 
Highness had been very backward in 
his payments to her, and I must put the 
people offi and accordingly I did as she 
said. 

Did Mrs. Clarke ever mention to 
you that his Royal Highness said that 
he would give, or had given her siims of 
money, to pay those debts .' — No, I 
never heard that. 

Did you never mention to Mrs. 
Clarke, that you wished her to ii.sk 
money fiom tl.e Duke of York^ to pay 
thosr debts ?— Yes, I did. 

Wiiat was the answer Mrs. Clarke 
made ? — Siie said all would be paid as 
soon as she had it from his Royal High- 
ness. 

Were not many of those debts paid ? 
— a great many were paid. 

You have stated, that you applied to 
Mrs. Clarke, telling her that she owed 
certain sums of money, to get it from the 
Duke of York ; do you know from your 
own knowledge that many of those debts 
were afterwards paid I — Some of the 
debts were paid while he was there ; I 
have paid the baker, and I have paid the 
butcher twice. 

Then upon your application, desiring- 
Mrs. Clarke would apply to the Duhe of 
York, have you often found debts paid ? 
—Yes, I have found tnany of the debts 
paid. 

Did you know ca|)tain Sutton by 
sight ? — Yes. 

Had captain Sutton only one leg ?— 
Only one leg. 

Do you know what regiment he was 
of I — No, I do not 1 am sure. 

Do you still live in the service of 
Mrs, Clarke ?— Yes. 

Have you had any conversation with. 
Mrs. Clarke on the subject of this in- 
vestigation, since it commenced ?— No, 
I have not. 

You have said, that you paid the ser- 
vants' tvages while you lived with Mrs. 



262 



Cliu-kc ; liow many men-servants did 
you pay wages to ? — Tl\e coachinun, his 
name iii Parker, aiul WilliamM'Dowall ; 
I believe she paid Picrson herself ; and 
tlie stable man and the boy, four men in 
the stable, 1 always used to give the 
money once a week or once a fortnight, 
to them ; there were in all, five in the 
stable and tince in the house. 

Were they all servants on standing 
annual wages ? — Yes, they were all 
yearly servants ; and there were two 
servants at Weybridge, a gardener and 
a cook. 

Yon have stated, that there were 
sometimes two, and sometimes three 
men -cooks for particidar dioivers ; do 
you mean by those particular dinners, 
that they were dressed for a large com- 
pany ? — No, we never had a large com- 
j>any ; this was first when Mrs. Clarke 
went into that house. 

Those dinners were dressed merely 
for two or three persons ? — Yes, for his 
Uoyal Higlmcss, as far as I know, in 
particular. 

Not for any other company ? — No. 

You went with Mrs. Clarke when she 
first went to reside in Gloucester-place ? 
Yes, I did. 

Do you know who the tradesmen 
were who fvn'nished the house in Glou- 
cester-place ? — No. 

Who furnished the upholstery ? — It 
was somebody in Bond-street ; Oakley. 

Do you know who furnished the china 
and glass ? — Mr. Mortlock, in Oxford- 
street. 

Do you know who furnished the hotjse 
with gr.ites ? — Mr. Summers, and Rose, 
in Hond-street. 

Do you know wliat silversmith fur- 
nished the plate I — Birketts. 

Do you know any of the other trades- 
men with whom Mrs. Clarke dealt ? — 
Parker's, in Fleet-street, she hadsome- 
tlnng to do with. 

Who was the wine -merchant ? — I 
really do not know ; I believe his Royal 
Highness used to send it ; but I do not 
know; he used often to send it, I 
know. 

Did you ever pay any money on ac- 
count of wages to any one of those men 
cooks J— Yes ; I gave them a guinea a 
day, each of them, but I cannot recol- 
lect their names. 

Did you consider that as payment for 
that day, or as in part of annual wages ? 
— Onl^v for the day. 

Were you in the capacity of own maid 



to Mrs. Clarke, or was there any other 
—I was own maid and house-keeper to- 
gether. 

Do you know Mr. Dewier ? — I have 
seen him. 

Have you seen him frequently ?— Yes, 
I have seen him frequently. 

Have you seei\ him frequently in 
Gloucester-place ?- Yes, I have. 

Do you know, ornot, whether he staid 
the night there N-Never, 1 am \evj 
sure of that. 

Did you at any time convey any mes- 
sages to the tradesmen employed to fur- 
nish the house in Gloucester place ? — 
Yes, for any thing that was wanted. 

Concerning the manner in which it 
was to be done, and vkhat articles were 
to be sent in ?— Yes, Mrs. Clarke's order. 

Did the tradesmen seem willing to 
scjul in articles merely on Mrs. Clarke's 
authoritx' ?--They sent what she ordered, 
as fai' as I know ; sometimes they would 
not. 

Did you use any arguments to them 
to induce them to send in articles, if they 
appeared miwilling' so to do ?---No, I 
did not ; I said w hen she had money she 
would certainly pay them, notl\ing fur- 
ther than that. 

Did they tell you that tlicy looked to a 
better paymaster than Mrs. Clai'ke, or 
any thing of that kind ?— They have 
asked ine, whether his Royal Highness 
had settled with her, and given her 
money ; and I said no, as soon as she 
had it, she would give it to them. 

Was c.ipt. Sutton in the habit of visit- 
ing" at Mrs. Cl.oi-ke's ? — Yes, she knew 
capt. Sutton. 

Was he in the habit of visiting at Mrs. 
Clarke's ? - Yes. 

Was he in the habit of visiting at Mrs. 
Clarke's before Sam. Carter came to 
live at Mrs. Clarke's house ?-"Yes, he 
was. 

When he came to visit Mrs. Clarke, 
was he not in the habit of bringing Sam. 
Carter as a companion ?-I do not know ; 
he brought him with him, certainly. 

When Sam. Carter came with capt. 
Sutton, was he in the habit of gfoing with 
him into the parlour .'—No. 

When Mrs Clarke first resided in 
Gloucester-place, what number of ser- 
v.ants had she .it that time ?---Sam. Car- 
ter was the first that went there when I 
went ; there was a coachman and two 
footmen, and a butler and a postilion ; 
there were four men in the stable ; she 
had them immediately as she got there 



263 



Did you over see Sam. Carter after he 
i got a commission in the army ?— No, I 
i do not think I ever did. 

Do vou recollect whether Sam. Carter 
got a commission in the army while he 
was in Mrs. Clarke's service ? --Yes, and 
went to Deal to join his regiment. 

He left Mrs. Clarke's service I'or that 
reason ?— Yes. 

And you never saw him afterwards ? 
No. 

What was your name before yon were 
married ? -Favery, that is my real name. 

Are you a married woman ?--No. 

Did you ever hear Mrs. Clarke say, 
■why she applied for a commission lor 
Sam. Carter, more than for any other 
foot-boy in her service; ?— No. 

By whatname was Sam. Carter known 
to his Royal Hij^hnesH, by the name of 
Sam, Samuel, or Carter ?— We used to 
call him Sam. 

Was he known by the name.of Carter 
to his Royal Highness ?---Ycs, he was 
known by the name of Carter. 

Did Samuel Carter appear to you a 
person of superior manners and educa- 
tion to persons in that situation ?---! do 
not know ; he was very well. 

Did any of tlie servants dine with you 
in general at the same table, when you 
lived with Mrs Clarke in Gloucester- 
place ?— Yes, I sat down to dinner with 
them all. 

Can you mention any body else who 
was in the habit of going to the trades- 
men about the articles to be furnished to 
the house in Gloucester-place ?---! never 
■went, I sent a servant always, and Wm. 
M'Dowall has been to Oakley's in Bond- 
street, and to Rose and Summer's, and 
to diHerent tradesmen. 

Do you know any body else who 
went ?--Pierson used to go. 

You did not know any agent or stew- 
ard, or any person of that description, 
who used to go ?--No, 

Do you know whether a person of the 
name of Taylor used to go N--I am not 
sure whether he went ; he might be sent 
by Mrs Clarke, he was not by me. 

Do you know any thing of his going ? 
No, I do not. 

When you lived in Gloucester place, 
■was Mrs. Clarke in the habits of receiv- 
ing visits from other gentlemen besides 
his Royal Highness the Duke of York ? 
Yes, several people came. 

Gentlemen ?- -Yes, gentlemen came 
backwards and forwards. 

Did you ever know that any of those 



gentlemen were considered as, opulent ; 
1 really do not know. 

You have slated, that you were in the 
habit of dining with all the servants ; of 
course the coachman was one of that 
number ?--Yes, he was. 

Do you remember a capt. Wallls vis. 
iting there ?-.--No, L never remember 
such a name. 
[I'he witness was directed to witlidraw. 

GWYLLIM LLOYD WARDLEEsq. 

attending m his place, 
Examined by the Covi>rult"e. 
In I'olio 132 of liie prnited Minutes of 
the Evidence, there appears a letter 
written by Mrs. Clarke to Mr. Donovan, 
in which is tiie following cvprcssion ; the 
date of the letter is January 28lh, 1809: 
" I musl be candid, and tell you, that iw 
order to facilitate some negotiations, I 
had given him a low of yoiu* letters : in 
one you speak of the Queen, in another 
the two Deaneries." Did Mrs- Clarke \ 
give you any letters In order to facditata 
any negotiation ?--l never had anv ne- 
gotiation with Mrs. Clarke about letters 
in my bfe ; Ich) not know what she means 
by the expression of a negotiation. 

Are these tiie letters wliich she stated 
you had taken away from her ? -I took 
some of Mr. Donovan's letters in the 
way I have before described, which I 
have produced to this house ; but what 
she means by negotiation I do not know- 
Had you any oilier letters of Mr. Do- 
novan's from Mrs. Clarke, or are thost" 
the vei-y letters whlcli she so posilively 
stated, you had taken away from her ?— 
I liad some other letters froiuMrs. Clarke 
of Mr. Donovan's, which slie gave me, 
and 1 examined him as to those letters 
in this house. 

For what purpose did Mrs. Clarke 
give those letters ?--I really do not know 
for what i)urposc she gave them to me ; 
1 asked her to give them me, and I ex- 
amined him upon them in this House. 

Have you never asked Mrs. Clarke 
what slie meant by that expression in 
her letter f— No, I do not think I didj 
but I never did have any answer to it, if 
I liad ; I remember the expression strik- 
ing me when I heard it read. 

When Mrs. Clarke delivered these 
letters to you, did she mention any thing' 
about any negotiation as affecting one ir 
more Deaneries ?---l never heard of any 
negotiation about any Deanery, excep.. 
what these letters contain. 



26i 



Mrs. MARY ANN CLARKE was 

culled 111, and a letter from Mr. El- 

derton to his Royal Highness tlie 

Duk« of York being shewn to the 

Witness she was examined. 

Do you recollect that that was one of 
the letters that you delivered to Mr. 
NichoUs to be burned ?— Yes, tliey were 
all delivered to be burned. 

Do you recollect that that was one of 
them ? -I cannot recollect that that was 
one of tiiem ; except what I burned 
myself, I gave the rest down to be burn- 
ed, and they positively assured me 
they were burned. 

Do you remember how that letter 
came into your possession ? — I suppose 
I may be allowed to read it before I give 
my opinion. 

[The witness read the letter.] 

To whom is that letter addressed ? — 
It is .iddressed to his Roval Highness 
the Duke of York. 

How came that letter into your pos- 
session ? — I had it to shew the Duke of 
York, I suppose, as I had many other 
letters ; and after he read it was 
left in mv possession. This man was ar- 
rested a^tcr he had his appointment, and 
I had solicited for leave for him. 

Then I understand you to say, that 
tliat letter was addrcsssed to you, by 
■whom was it addressed to you ? — By 
Mr. Eldeiton, or else his wife ; by Mr. 
Elderton, addressed to me, to deliver 
to the Duke. 

Then I understand you to say, that the 
letter was inclosed to you in another by 
Mr. Elderton ; is that so ? — Yes. 

And th.it in consequence of your re- 
ceiving it, vou delivered it to his Royal 
Highness tlie Duke of York ? — I am po- 
sitive that I shewed it him, to let him 
know that the man was grateful. 

Did the Duke of York return it to 
you ? — After he had read letters, they 
Used to be left upon the table, and I 
ougiit to have destroyed them. 

Did not you understand that S-Avn- 
Carter was a natural son of captain Sut- 
ton ? — No, I did not ; people have said 
so, but he told me lo the contrary him- 
self. 

Did not Capt Sutton take cai»e of his 
education '-—Captain Sutton always had 
^hc boy about him ; he had several, and 
Sum was one ; he had been very strong- 
ly recommended, I believe by Mrs. Fitz- 
herbert, but they deniei^ that at one 
tipic. 

pid Capt. Sutton educate the boy ?— 



He was not well educated till he came 
to me ; he used to go to school, while he 
was in my service, every leisure hour. 

Do not you know that Capt, Sutton 
took care of his education?— I know that 
he took some pains to instruct him in his 
leisure time, he was a very good boy. 

Do you know what regiment captain 
Sutton was in ? — He formerly was a lieu- 
tenant in the grenadiers ; I believe he 
was a volunteer where he lost his leg. 

You are not certain what regiment he 
was in ? — No ; he was deputy fire -mas- 
ter at Woolwich, and nad been an 
esteemed friervd of the Prince of Wales 
and of the Duke of York for twelve 
years, but nearly died for want, except 
throvigh me. 

Did you consider Samuel Carter in a 
light above the rest of your servants ?— 
Yes, I did, for he was very faithful to 
me. 

In what year did Mr. Elderton get the 
paymastership of the dragoons, that you 
spi^ke of ?-"I cannot tell, but it was be- 
fore General Simcoe died. 

You do not remember the year at all ? 
No, I do not. 

During your residence in Gloucester- 
place, did you ever make any i*eturn of 
the Income Tax ?— No, I believe I did 
not. 

Were you ever assessed either fop 
your horses, cwriages, or men-servants ? 
—Yes, I was. 

Then j'ou recollect the number ?— I 
used to forget the greater number of 
them when they were put down, con- 
ceiving they had been paid for before 
through the Duke, or otherwise. 

Look at the letter ; [the letter to Mr. 
Donovan, of the 28th of Janu.iry] that 
letter speaks of delivering some letters 
to Mr. Wardle, in order to facilitate 
some negotiation ?— I sent tliat letter to 
Mr. Donovan. 

Did you give these letters to Mr. 
Wardle, in order to facilitate any nego- 
tiation ?— Yes ; not the letters that Col. 
Wardle ran away with, hut letters of 
field-officers to recommend two or three 
lieutenants to companies, they were to 
give more than the regulation, three or 
four hundred pounds ; I understood fi-om 
Mr. Donovan that Greenwood was to 
have some part, Froome another, himself 
.1 share, and me ; these young men 
were to pay, I think, four hundred gui- 
neas over the regulation, and that it was 
the last job Greenwood was to give 
Froome, that it was to complete a very 



S6S 



•Id promise of tlie Duke of York ; Mr. 
Donovan told mc he must have the I'c- 
commendation of a member of purlia- 
ment or a general officer, to cover him- 
self. 

If you refer to a passage in your letter, 
it will appear that the letters you allude 
to were, one in whicli Mr. Donovan 
speaks of the Qjieen, and in the other of 
two Deaneries N—Those were the letters 
Colonel Wardlc took away, and which 
I told him were in his possession ; that 
letter I think mentions as far as tliat. 
[The passage in the letter was read. 

I iiad not given him those letters, he 
took tliem, and what I gave Colonel 
Wardle to facilitate was the other three, 
the licuienants for the companies, and 
he has two or three of them now, and 
General Clavering the other ; and when 
I represented one of the young men as 
Mr. Sumner'.s nephew or cousin, I be- 
lieved it, because Mi . Donovan had told 
me so, and declared it in every way 
possible. 

How could the delivery of any letters 
whatever to Mi . Wardlc, facilitate any 
negotiation ?- -I tlioughl < hat they migiit, 
because he told me that he could do it 
by men who were not in the opposition, 
because I knew that a man on that side, 
•would not do to recommend to the Duke 
of York anv military man. 

Who told you so ? --Colonel Wardle. 

What sort of negotiations did you 
think the delivery of these letters might 
faciutatc ?— To get a letter of recom- 
mendation for the young men, the same 
sort of recommendation as General 
Clavering was to give me for Sumner. 

You have stated that the paymaster 
procured for Elderton was previous to 
tlie death of General Simcoe ; what cir- 
cumstance makes you say it must have 
been previous to the death of General 
Simcoe .'—I believe it was General 
Simcoe's regiment ; I know he had been 
applied to on the subject. 

Are you quite positive that these let- 
ters spoken of, are the letters Mr. War- 
dle run away with ?-— Yes. 

Did the Duke of York ever tell you 
at any time, that he had been informed 
by any person of your having received 
money by getting appointments in the 
army i — No, no one dare tell him so. 

Did the Duke of York ever inform 
you by what means the commissions you 
stale to have been so irregularly obtain- 
ed, were made to appear regular in the 
books of the office ?— No, he did not 



state to me that circumstance, only that 
he would take projjcr care and have them 
all right, and the subjects he always 
thought were proper when they were 
proposed. 

GWYLLIM LLOYD WARDLE.Esq. 

attending in his place, made the fol- 
lowing statement : 

I wish to say, that I am now aware 
what Mrs. Clarke means by her nego- 
tiation : the letters that I before alluded 
to her having received from Mr. Dono- 
van, and my having examined him upon 
them in this House, were seiU to her by 
Mr. Donovan, as I understood, for the 
purpose of her getting them signed by a 
general officer, or a member of Parlia- 
ment ; she stated having sent one oi' 
them to General Clavering to be signed ; 
the other three or four, 1 forget wliich it 
was, 1 got from her, she gave them to 
me ; 1 remember her statmg at the time, 
that if 1 could get a member of l^arlia- 
meni to sign them for her, it would be 
just what Mr. Donovan wanted ; I said 
my friends were in opposition, and oppo- 
sition men would not do ; I kept the let- 
ters ever since, and till this moment 
never could make out what she meant 
by the term negotiation. 

Have you any objection to deliver in 
those letters, from which you examineci 
Mr. Donovan at the table of this House 1 
— They arc all ou the table of the 
House. 

Are those letters on the table of the 
House which Mrs. Clarke wished you 
to get a member of Parliament to sign I 
— No, 1 think not. 

Are there any letters on the table of 
tlie House which Mrs. Clarke gave to 
you, to procure the signature of a mem- 
ber of Parliament ?— I thought they had 
been given in, but if they are not, 1 cer- 
tainly will lay them on the table. 

Have you any objection to lay on the ta- 
ble every letter which you got either by 
violence or otherwise.from Mrs. Clarke ? 
— Ihave no objection to layon the tablcthe 
letters in question respecting those offi- 
cers who were to have been so recommen- 
ded, and all the letters that 1 had regard 
to in the statement I made to the House 

Have you any objection to lay on the 
table every letter which you got, either 
by violence or otiierwise, from Mrs. 
Clarke ? — I wish the answer 1 have given 
to be repeated. 

Are llicre any letters in your pnsses- 
eion, relative to the inquiry before the 



266 



Xfcmsf , na to tlic Duke of York's r on- 
fliict, wliich yon h:ivc taken from Mrs. 
Clnrke, or wliich slu- has givtn to yon, 
^vlli^l1 yoti ohjcTt to lay bi-forr llie 
House ? — I know of none suili, 1 linve 
no infonnation wliidi willi propriety can 
be laid Inrorr tliis Committcf, which I 
vould witlihoUl from tliom. 

Arc tJu- letters alluded to in the letter 
cf Mrs. Clarke, at present on tiio table 
of the House ? — No, they are not. 

Wlieu did you receive tlie letters from 
Mrs Clarke, which slu- mentions in her 
letter of the 28li» of January, to have 
been delivered to yoti ? — 1 have no 
jncinorandum, I caiuiot speak to the 
time. 

CHARLES GREENWOOD, Esq. wis 

called in, and examined by the Com- 
mittee, as follows : 

Is Mr. rrooinc now in yotir oflice ? — 
No. 

Did Mr. Froomc succeed to the situ- 
nt'ioti of one of your clerks tliat has 
lately left yoti ?— N(». 

Did not Mr. Fn)oinc succeed to the 
sitvuition of one of yovu" clerks that has 
Intelv left you ? — No. 

Did not Mr. Froome come to town 
for the i)urpose of supjdyinjjthe place of 
that clerk ? — Mr. Froome came to town 
to settle some old accmmls of mine as 
Treasurer to tli("Hoyal Military ColU-pe, 
and not at all to take the place of tliat 
clerk. 

Has he settled those accounts, and if 
no when did he leave you ! — He is set' 
tlinp;' them now. 

Wiiere di>es he transact the business ? 
—Very near my ollice at Charini;-eross. 

Are you apent to the ~2d regiment of 
dragoons ?— No. 

Or ever was since it was raised ? — I 
tJiink not : but 1 catmot positively an- 
swer to that fact. 

Do you recollect any difterence be- 
tween you and the Duke of York, 
wherein the Duke of York applied to 
you to a])point a iiaymastcr to tliut regi- 
ment ? — Certainly not. 

Is it within your power or that of anj' 
np^^nl to appoint a paymaster to any re- 
g'imenl ? — The ]H>wer ivsts in the colonel 
to recommend to the Secretary at War, 
who makes the necessary iiupiiries as to 
the securities, and then makes out the 
appointment for thcCommander in Chief 
to lay befoiv his Majesty. 

In fact the Commander in Chief c.in 
Vavc notliing- in the world to do with it. 



more than to lay it before his Majesty ? 
—1 never understood that he )\ad. 

Do you know Mrs. Clarke ? — 1 do not 
know her by sig^iit. 

Did you ever write to her ?— I recol- 
lect one note I did write to her. 

Do you know a Mr. Eli'.jrton ? — I did 
know him. 

No disagreement ever happened be- 
tween you and \he Duke of York, re- 
specting- appointing Mr. Eldcrton apay- 
nuister ? — No, certainly not 

Did the Duke of York ever .ipply to 
yoti ;oa]ip( int him ? — Never ; the Duke 
of York menlioncd him to me as a man 
that would call upon me about a pay- 
niastorship, and said that I might make 
iixpiiries about him, but never I'ecom- 
nundod liim. 

What was the occasion of that note 
which you mention having written to 
Mrs. Clarke ? — It was in answer to a 
note slie wroic me, to tUsire my inter- 
ference witii his Royal Highness about 
a brother, I think he was, of hers ; she 
called him captain Thompson tliat had 
been in the cavalry. 

Do you recollect the d.ite of tliat 
note ? — It was not long ago ; 1 do not 
recollect the date at all ; I should think 
within a month or six weeks. 

Do ymi recollect, either in that note 
or by message, stating to Mrs. Clarke, 
that you were sorry she had got ac- 
quainted with Mr. Finnerty ? — Never. 

Did you ever send any message to 
Mrs. Clarke by Mr. Taylor of Bund- 
street ?J— Never. 

How long was Mr. Froome in ytiur 
oflice before the first time he and you 
parteil ^— I really cannot recollect ; but 
he has |eft my oilice for, I should sup- 
pose, fiiur or five years, I ciuinot recol- 
lect particularly, it was at the time I 
discovered lie was trading in commis- 
sions that I discharged him. 

Is not Mr. Fi-oomc on the half-pay ? — 
I believe he is. 

Is he a captain on the half-pay ?— No, 
1 think only a lieutenant. 

How did you seiul that note which 
you wwtc to Mrs. Clarke ■ — 1 sent it by 
Mr. Taylor, I think. 

Mr 'I'.iylor the shoemaker ? — Yes, 

Ai"e you acquainted with Mrs. Sin- 
clair SiUherkind ? — 1 knew her some 
years ago. 

How many years ago • — I should think 
six or seven years agx) ; 1 have seen her 
since. 

Have you seen her often since : — No. 



ser 



llftve you seen hrr lately ? — No. 

How lately have you srcii licr ? — I (Id 
not tlutik 1 huvc Mrs. Siiicliiir these two 
yeufs. 

On what occasion did you last sec 
her ? — Mine was a visit of civility, I 
believe, I luul no jiarticular object in it. 

Did you call upon her ? — Yes. 

Have you kept up your ac(|naintuncc 
with her from the first oripir. of tiuit ac- 
quaintance .' — I have very little actjuain- 
tauce -.villi Mrs. Sinclair ; I do not sup- 
]»ose I ever saw Mrs. Sinclair a dozen 
times in my life. 

What led to that acquaintance .' — I 
believe that the first acquaintance I had 
with Mrs Sinclair, was from hearing a 
friend of mine apeak of her. 

Did you become ar(|uainted with her 
through any intimacy i)et\veen the Duke 
of York and her ? — I certainly was ac- 
quainted with her more from that cir- 
cumstance. 

Then you arc aware she was intimate 
with the Duke of York ? — I am aware 
that the Duke of York knew her ; I am 
not at all aware that the Duke of York 
was intimate with her. 
L'rhc wiiness was directed to withdraw, 

[The witness was again called in,] 

Do you know of any connexion ever 
subsisting between Uie Duke of York 
and Mrs Sutherland ' — I have heard 
that there \tas. 

Has any fact ever come to your 
knowledge which enables you to slate, 
of your own knowledge, that such u 
connexion ever had exisUnl ?— I have 
heard Mrs. Sinclair herself say so. 

Did you ever hear Mrs. Sinclair state 
that slie was with child by the Duke of 
York .'—Yes. 

[The witness was directed to with- 
draw. 

[The witness was again called in.] 

Did you ever know of a house being 
hired at Hamburgh for Mrs. Sutiierland 
to lie in ? — No. 

Do you know of any measures that 
were taken to hire a house for that pur- 
pose ? — No. 

Can you to your own knowledge 
speak to Mrs. Sinclair having got a troop 
frrfm the Duke of York, lor a friend of 
hers ? — Certainly not. 

Did you ever correspond with heron 
the subject ol" a troop that she had ap- 
plied for ? — N(j, I think not, it is so long 
since >. to the best of my knowledge 
not. 

Can you speak positively to that fact ? 



— I can speak positively to never hinln^ 
had any conversation with the Duke oi' 
York. 

Do you recollect writing to Mri*. 
Sinclair up<m any military matte is ? — I 
recollect she wrot<' to nie ndative to a 
son of the lat(; General Debbidge, upon 
the subject of prcuiiotion, which I did 
not apply for ; and 1 think she wrote to 
me about obtaining leave of abiience for 
bini, which, being in the natural ccjiirso 
of my business, I think 1 ilid obtain for 
her ; but I cannot speak with certainty. 

State whether of your own knowledge 
Mrs. Sinclair was given to understand 
that that ollicer was promoted througU 
her application ' — Certainly not. 

You have stated, that you sent a 
note to Mrs. Clarke by Mr. Taylor | 
who is Mr. Tayloi* .' — A ahoemalter, in 
Bond street. 

How happened it that you eniproyed 
such a uiesseiiger ! — She sent hini lo me. 

Had you ever any other conununica- 
tion with Mr. Taylor f — I have seen Mr. 
Taylor several times on other business. 

Is Mr. Taylor your shoemaker ! — No. 

Have you ever had any correspond- 
ence by letter with Mr. Taylor ? — No. 

You have stated in the cJirly part of 
vour examination, that the ComniandeL* 
in Chief told you that Mr. EUkrtoii 
would probably call resjiecling a pay- 
niaslersli'p, and re(juesle<l you lo make 
iiupiiries ; did you make any iiuiuiries { 
—Yes. 

What was the result of those inquiries, 
and was lu; apiioiiilcd to the pa) niasler- 
ship ?-I"he result of those incpiiries was, 
that I put him down in my li.st as a can- 
didate f(>r a paymastershii). 

Was he apijointedto a jiaymastership ? 
Upon a vacancy ha|)peningin Sir Robert 
Abercrombie's regiment, thinking him 
a very proper man i'or the appointment, 
1 wrote to SirRoberl Abcrcronibie about 
him, and he recoinmcMuied him to the 
Secretary at War. May 1 beg leave to 
correct an answer I have just given, re- 
specting my correspondence with Mr 
Taylor : there were two or three (pie.s- 
tions I thought it necessary to put to him : 
knowing he had paid some money on 
the Duke of York's account for Mrs. 
Clarke, I pnt three questions to him, 
whiclihe answered satisfactorily ; if that 
is to be called a correspondence, I have 
had correspondence witli him. 

Do you know of any large sum of 
money being paid by his Royal Highness 
the Duke of York to Mrs, Clarke ? — 



268 



tluring her residence in Gloticester- 
place ? — No large sums ever went 
tlirougli my hands to Mrs. Clarke, nor 
any sum whatever. 

You admit that ycu have had some 
correspondence witli Mr. Taylor, when 
did that correspondence take place ?— 
A few years ago. 

You do not recollect at any other time 
having had any correspondence with 
Mr. Taylor ? — No, certainly not. 

Did you send a.n answer to Mrs. 
Clarke by Mr. Taylor, in consequence 
of the letter having been brought by 
him ? — Certainly. 

You stated that you recommended 
Mr. Elderton to Sir Robert Abercrom- 
bie for paymaster ; had you any knowl- 
edge of Mr. Elderton previous to the 
Duke of York's mentioning him to vou ? 
— I believe he had applied to my office 
for a clerkship, but I am not qviite clear 
as to that point ; I made several inqui- 
ries in consequence of his Royal High- 
ness' recommendation. 

Were the inquiries which you made 
satisfactory ? — They were satisfactory in 
the first instance, but sometime after- 
wards, on farther inquiry, I was by no 
means sr.tislied, and I wrote to Sir 
Robert Abercrombie to tliat effect. 

What inquiries did you make that 
ca\ised dissatisfaction ? — I made some 
inquiries, besides a representation I had 
from Bristol where Mr. Elderton had 
lived, of some improper conduct there. 

What was the consequence of these 
discoveries you made respecting Mr. 
Elderton ? — Representing tiie same to 
Sir Robert Abercrombie, in order to 
stop the recommendation. 

What was the effect of that commu- 
nication ? — It was delayed for a lime ; 
afterwards to the best of my recollection, 
Mr. Elderton wrote himself, or got some 
friend to apply to Sir Robert Abercrom- 
bie, and Sir Robert Abercrombie after- 
wards recommended him to tlie Secre- 
tary at War. 

Do you know what those recommen- 
dations were, or from whom tliey came ? 
— I re*lly do not. 

Were the objections removed solely 
by the recommendation of Sir Robert 
Abercrombie ? — I believe entirely. 

After those objections had been made, 
did any conversation take place between 
His Royal Highness the Duke of York 
and yourself upon the subject ? — Cer- 
tainly none. 

How do you know tliat any sub6ec|_uent 



recommendation was made to Sir Rob- 
ert Abercrombie ? — I think I have let- 
ters from Sir Robert Abercrombie to 
prove that. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

COLONEL GORDON was called in, 
and examined by the Committee, as 
follows : 

Have you brought with you the docu- 
ments respecting the proposed exchange 
between Colonel Knight and Colonel 
Pleydell?— Yes, I have them in my hand. 
[Colonel Gordon delivered in seve- 
ral p.apers, which were read :-;— 
Letter from Messrs. Collyer. — 
Answer to the above. — Letter 
from Colonel Knight, dated June 
19th, 1805. — Letter from Colonel 
Gordon to Colonel Knight.] 

"C. L. 

" The Commander in Chief 
cannot accede to the re- 
■ quest of these officers Lieu- 
"Refused." tenant Colonel Pie deli 
must remain in the regt- 
vient to ivhich he has been 
posted." 
" Messrs. Collyer have the honour of 
tr.insmiiting Colonel Gordon the me- 
morials of Majors Knight and Pleydell 
to exch.ange." 
" Park -place, St. James's, 
27th May, 1805." 

[Copy.) " Horse-Guards, 

" Gentlemen, 28th May, 1805. 

" Having laid bef ire the Commander 
in Chief your note of the 27th in- 
stant, I am directed to acquaint you 
in reply, that his Royal Highness cannot 
accede to the exchange therein pro- 
posed, between Major Knight of the 5th 
Dragoon Guards, and Lieutenant-colo- 
nel Pleydell of the 59th Regiment of 
Foot : and Lieutenant-colonel Pleydell 
must remain witli the corps to which he 
has been posted. 

" I am Sir 
(Signed) " J. W. GORDON. 
*' The Inclosiu'es in your 
Letter are herewith returned. 
" Messrs. Collyer." 
*' H. R. H has no objection to his re- 
ceiving a difference, and when an eligi- 
ble successoi- can be recommended, H. 
R. H. will take it into consideration." 

" No. 35, Maddox-st. Hanover- 

" Sir, Square, June 19, 1805. 

His Royal Highness tlie Commai^dev 



I 



269 



in Chief not having' acceded to my ex- 
changing with Lieutenant Colonel Plry- 
dell, I fear my motives for wishing to 
return to the infantry may have been 
misrepresented to his Royal Highness. 

" I therefore take the liberty of stat- 
ing them to you, and request the favour 
of you to submit them to the considera- 
tion of his Royal Highness. 

" I am desirous of returning to the in- 
fantry, with a view to receive back the 
difference.to enable me to arrange some 
pecuniary concerns which press upon 
me at this moment; and in case his Royal 
Highness should be graciously pleased 
to acquiesce, I intend to solicit the fur- 
ther indulgence of a temporary retire- 
ment upon half-pay for the recovery of 
my health, which is much impaired by a 
service of 20 years in the West Indies, 
in Holland, in Egypt, and elsewhere ; 
and as 1 do not mean to solicit H.R. H.'s 
permission to receive the difference be- 
tween full and lialf-pay, I flatter myself 
his Royal Highness, when my health is 
re-established, will consider my past ser- 
vices, and allow me to return to a ser- 
vice, which I never can quit for a mo- 
ment without the deepest regret. 

" And in case his Royal Highness 
should have no person in viewto succeed 
me in tlie 5th Dragoon Guards, I hum- 
bly beg leave to submit the name of 
Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Brooke of the 
56th Regiment (an old Cavalry officer; 
■who has written to me on the subject. 
*' I have the honour to subscribe myself, 
" Sir, Your obedient, humble servant, 
" H. R. KNIGHT, 
" Major 5th Dragoon Guards, 
and Bt. Lieut.-Colonel. 
" To Colonel Gordon, &.c. &,c. Sic." 

" Horse Guai'ds, 21st June, 
" Sir, 1805. 

" Having laid before the Commander 
in Chief your letter of the 19th instant^ I 
am directed to acquaint you, that his 
Royal Highness has no objection to your 
exchanging to the infantry, receiving the 
difference ; and when an eligible suc- 
cessor can be recommended, your re- 
quest will be taken into consideration. 
" I have, &c. 
(Signed) " J. W. GORDON. 
" Bt. Lieut.-col. Knight, 5 D. Gds. 
** 35, Maddox-street, Hanover-square." 

Are you acquainted with Major Tur- 
ner ? — I was acquainted with him. 
What was the period of your acquaint- 
35 



ance with him ? — I think it was in the 
year 1803- 

When was the last time, that you saw 
him previous to his tendering his resig- 
nation ! — I cannot recollect the precise 
day, but it was a very short time before 
he gave it in, he called upon me, and 
stated his intention of so doing. 

Did he solicit any other situation ? — 
No, I cannot recollect that he did. 

Did he request to be put upon the 
staff of the army serving in Spain ? — I do 
not recollect that he did ; it is very pos- 
sible that he might, but I do not recolw 
lect that he did. 

Did he state to you the reasons for 
wliich he intended to resign J— Yes, he 
certainly did. 

What were those reasons ? — Major 
Turner called upon me, and told me, it 
was his intention to give in his resigna- 
tion, and retire from the army ; I ex- 
pressed some surprise atthis,havingiiad 
some previous acquaintance with him, 
and told him, I think, that he had better 
consider of it, before he took so decided 
a step. I think Major Turner told mc, 
he had got into some unfortunate scrape 
with a woman, and it was necessary for 
him to quit the service ; the exact words 
I do not recollect, but that was the tenor 
of the conversation tiiat passed between 
us. There was very little more or less. 
Did lie state the nature of the scrape ? 
. — No, he certainly did not ; but I have 
some recollection, that he was about to 
do ii, and that I stopped liim, as my 
custom is, not wishing to enter into the 
private affairs of officers more than is 
necessary. 

Did he state the name of the lady ? — 
I am pretty confident he did not. 

When the application was made for 
the exchange between Colonel Knight 
and Colonel Pleydell, were the usual 
inquiries made, and were they acted up- 
on ? — This is rather an embarrassini^ 
question. I should answer it in this 
way ; that the Commander in Chief did, 
not think Colonel Pleydell a proper of- 
ficer to be placed at the head of a regi- 
ment of cavalry. 

Is it your belief that, upon a complaint 
made from any quarter against any ofR- 
cer, who was soliciting either for ex- 
change or resignation, that compm nt 
beingjthat the officer had behaveddishon- 
ourably by a lady, that would lead to an 
inquiry on the part of the Commander 
in Chief ?— That would depend very 
much upon the mode in which the com- 



270 



plaint -was made ; the complaint in ques- 
tion stated, that the general knew all 
about it ; inquiry was thei-efore made of 
the general, before any decision was giv- 
en upon it. 

Did it ever come within your knowl- 
edge, that any resignation had been 
stopped, or any proceeding taken at the 
Commander in Chief's office, in conse- 
quence of an anonymous letter ?— I can- 
not exactly say that a resignation had 
been stopped ; but this I can say, that 
all anonymous letters are invariably at- 
tended to. 

Is it not the invariable practice of the 
Commander in Chief to forward all anon- 
ymous letters, conveying complaints or 
any circumstances attached to the army, 
to the generals commanding the districts 
or the officers commanding regiments, 
concerning which complaints may be 
conveyed in those anonymous letters ? — 
I have already said that anonymous let- 
ters are always attended to, and are sent 
for inquiry in their proper course ; they 
happen almost daily. 
fThe witness was directed to withdraw. 

General ROCHFORTwas called in, and 
examined by the Committee, as fol- 
lows : 



Do you recollect a person of the name" 
of Samuel Carter, that lived with Cap- 
tain Sutton ? — I do. ^-(^ 

Do you happen to know whether Sam»-J 
uel Carter was reputed to be tlie natur^T 
Jll son of Captain Sutton ?— I always ua«j 
derstood that he was. 

Did he live with him as such ? — He 
lived with him as such, as it appeared 
tome 

You knew Captain Sutton ? — Very 
well. 

He brought him up as a son ? — Yes, he 
did, to the best of my knowledge. 

Did he give him a good education ?— • 
I believe the best education he could } 
he was very capable of educating him 
himself, and I believe he took a great 
deal of pains with the boy. 

Was he in the habit of dining at Cap- 
tain Sutton's table ? — T cannot tell ; I 
never dined with Captain Sutton at bis 
house. 

When did Captain Sutton die ? — I 
cannot exactly say ; two or three yeara 
ago, I believe. 
£The witness was directed to withdraw. 

{[The Chairman was directed to 
report progress, and ask leave 
to sit again. 



271 



Thursday^ February 16, 1809. 



Mr. ARCHIBALD DUFF was called 

in, and examined bj the Committee, 

as toUows : 

What arc 3 ou ? — A Solicitor. 

Do you know any thing of Robert 
Kennett ? — I am a Solicitor to the Com- 
mission of Bankruptcy against him. 

At what time did that bankruptcy take 
place ? — Some time in the year 1803. 

In consequence of being Solicitor to 
tliat Commission of Bankruptcy, have 
certain papers relative to this inquiry 
come into your possession ? — In conse- 
quence of the bankrupt's papers having 
been seized by the messenger vmderthe 
Commission, Ihuve become possessed of 
certain letters, which I have now in my 
pocket. 

Produce those papers. \_The Witness 
prouuced them.'\ 

When did those papers come into your 
possession ? — I cannot ascertain the time, 
sometime, 1 think, about the latter end 
©f 18G5, or Sometime in 1806. 

Have they been in your possession 
ever since ? — They have. 

Are those all the papers in your pos- 
session relative to this business ! — They 
are all the papers which I have been able 
to find among the bankrupt's papers, in 
which, in any manner, the name of his 
Royal Highness the Duke of York is 
mentioned. 

Did you at any time state, that you 
believed there was a paper in your pos- 
session, which yovi cotdd not i-eadily put 
your hand upon ? — I stated last night to 
Lord Folkestone, while I was in attend- 
ance at this House, that I believed there 
was a paper which I could not readily 
put my h.ind upon; but today I com- 
municated to Lord Folkestone that I had 
every reason to believe that that paper 
■was not in my possession, and that the re- 
collection of that paper must have arisen 
from one of the bankrupt's letters,whieh 
is now in the clerk's hand. 

Do you mean by not being in y«ur 



possession, that that paper did not exist, 
that there was no such paper ? — I stated 
to Lord Folkestone then, as I now do, 
that 1 believed there was no such paper. 

Are you acquainted with the hand- 
writing of Kennett ?--Perfectly well. 

Look attiiose papers, and see whether 
anv of thejn are the hand-writing of the 
bankrupt Kennett ? — No. 2, is his hand- 
writing. 

Look at No. 12 ; is that the hand- 
writing of Kennett ? — No. 12 contains 
two papers ; one is Kennett's hand-wri- 
ting, and the other is not. 

What are those papers N-They appear 
to be respecting the appointments at 
Surrinani, which have resulted from the 
surrender of that colony. 

Is Ihat the paper which is Kennett's 
hand- writing ? — Yes. 

Do you know whose hand-writing the 
other is ? — I do not. 

Is No. 14 m the hand- writing of Ken- 
nett ?— It is. 

Is No. 17 in the hand-writing of Ken» 
nett ? — No. 17 contains two papers ; one 
is not in the hand- writing of Kennett, 
the other is. 

What is the paper which is in the 
hand-writing of Kennett \ — That which 
is in the hand-writing of Kennett appears 
to be an application from him to Mr. 
Greenwood, for Mr. Adam's address 
in Scotland. 

Do you know whose hand-writing the 
other paper is \ — No. 

Is No 18 the hand- writing of Ken- 
nett ?— Yes, it is. 

You have stated, that there was a pa- 
per which you have not in your posses- 
sion, and which you believe not to exist ; 
to your knowledge, was such a paper 
ever in existence ? — I was led to believe 
that such apaper hade.x^isted, from a dig* 
tant recollection of having read the pa- 
per some time ago ; but upon referring 
to the papers again to-day, andthe place 
in wbich. I found them, namely, ttie 



272 



bankrupt's desk, I am satisfied that no 
such paper ever was in my possession, 
and that the only circumstance which 
could have led me to that belief, was 
tl»e bankrupt's letter. No. 18, and so I 
stated to Lord Folkestone to-day. 

Is the Committee to understand .that 
vou believe tliat paper never to have 
been in existence ? — I believe it never 
did exist- 

Whatbusiness was Kennett ? — Kennett 
was formerly an upholsterer in Bond- 
street ; he was at the time when the 
commission was issued against him, liv- 
ing' in Lincoln's- inn-fields, and carried 
on, or pretended to carry on, business of 
tooth-ach curer, curing the tooth-achby 
smelling a bottle. 

Did he ever obtain his certificate un- 
der that commission ? — Certainly not. 

Did he pass his last examination im- 
der that commission ? — He did, after a 
vast number of examinations and nume- 
rous delays. 

Do you know what is become of Ken- 
nett now ? — I know not ; 1 saw him 
about a month ago. 

Do you know any thing particularthat 
has occurred to Kennett since the com- 
mission of bankruptcy ? — I know what 
his lordship alludes to, but I wish the 
question was more particular, and not 
so general. 

Did he ever stand in the pillory ?— He 
was prosecuted by order of the Lord 
Chancellor, at the instance of his Majes- 
ty's attorney-general, for a conspiracy to 
defeat that commission, and cheat his 
creditors ; under that prosecution he 
was found guilty, and was put into the 
pillory. 

Had he been a bankrupt before the 
bankruptcy to which commission you 
were solicitor ? — He was. 

State the dates of both bankruptcies. 
— I cannot with precision. 

Can you state the date of the second 
bankruptcy with precision ? To the 
best of my recollection,the 23d of April, 
1803. 

Can you state in what year the fii-st 
bankruptcy took place ? — I think (but I 
caimot charge my memory with preci- 
sion) in the month of January, 1801. 
{^The witness was directed to withdraw. 

EDWARD TAYLOR, Esq. a member 
of the House, attending in his place, 
was examined by the Committee as 
follows : 
^Vill you look at No. 3, and state whe- 



ther that is Colonel Taylor's writing ?-» 
Yes, it is. 

Is No. 6 Colonel Taylor's hand- writ- 
ing ? — Yes, it is. 

No. 8 ?— Yes, it is. 

No. 9 ? — Yes, it is. 

No. 10 ?— Yes, it is. 

No. 13 ? — This is not his hand- writing 

Does it purport to be ? — It is written 
in his name ; but it is not his hand- 
writing. 

No. 20 ? — The note is ; there is an en- 
closure in it, which is not. 

Mr. ARCHIBALD DUFF was again 

called in, and examined by the Com- 

mittee as follows. 

Whose hand writing is No. 13 ?— I do 
not know. 

It is not the hand-writing of Kennett ? 
— It is not. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

WILLIAM ADAM, Esq. attendingin 
his place, was examined as follows : 
Look at No. 4, is that your hand-writ- 
ing ? — Yes. 

No. 5 ?~It is not my hand writing ; 
but it was written at my dictation. 
No. 19 ? — This is my hand-writing. 

The Right Honourable CHARLES 

LONG, attending in his place, was 

examined, as follows : 

Have you ever seen Mr. Adams, once 
private secretary to Mr. Pitt, write ?— 
I have. 

Can you speak to Mr. Adams' hand- 
writing ? — I can. 

Look at No. 11. — That is not his hand- 
writing, it purports to be a copy. 

Is No. 15 your hand- writing ? — No. 
15 is my hand-writing ; No. 16 I can- 
not speak to. 

WILLIAM HUSKISSON, Esq. at- 
attending in his place, was examined 
by the Committee, as follows : 
Will you look at No 21 ? — I have fre- 
quently seen Mr. Chapman write, and, 
to the best of my belief, this is his hand- 
writing. 

[The following papers were read •."] 
No. 2. " The principal sum of 70,000/. 
to be advanced to his Royal Highness 
the Duke of York, by way of aimuity, 
(at ten per cent.) either in one or two 
parts, as shall be approved by his 
Royal Highness, in the following man- 
ner, viz. 
"The said sum or sums to be charged 



2^3 



»n the Oatlands, and all the adjoining 
estates, manors, 8ic. 

" The purchaser to nominate any two 
lives (in ordei'to save insurance.) 

" His Royal Highness to be at liberty 
to pay oft" the principal sum or sums any 
time after three years, (in the usual 
way) either by giving six months' no- 
tice, or paying six months in advance. 

" The annuity to be payable quarterly 
either by an assignment of the exchequer 
order, or an undertaking from the trus- 
tees of the said order, to pay the same. 

No: 6. " Lieutenant colonel Taylor 
presents his compliments to Mr. Robert 
Kennett, and begs to acquaint him, that 
his Royal Highness the Duke of York 
has not any objection to writing to Mr. 
Pitt respecting the application which Sir 
Horace Mann has made in his favour. 
"Oailands, Sunday, 22d July, 1804." 

No. 3. " Lieutenant-colonel Taylor 
presents his compliments to Mr. Kennett, 
and is directed by his Royal Highness 
the Duke of York to request he will 
call upon Mr. Adam, in Lincoln's-inn- 
fields, upon Wednesday morning next. 
" Oatlands, July 29th, 1804.." 
Addressed, — " Robert Kennett, Esq. 13, 
Moore Place, Lambeth." 

No. 5. " Mr. Adam's compliments 
to Mr. Kennett, and means to see him 
on Tuesday evening, before which he 
cannot be m town. 
** Lincoln's-Inn, Thursday." 
Addressed, 
" Mr. Kennett." 

No. 4. " Mr. Adam is sorry that his 
business elsewhere detained him yester- 
day. He will be glad to see Mr. Ken- 
nett here to-day at eleven o'clock. 
•' Lincoln's-Inn, Thursday mormng, 2d 
Aug." 

Addressed, 
" Mr. Robert Kennett, 

" Ij, Moore Place, Lambeth." 

HENRY SWANN, Esq. a member of 

the House, attending in his place, was 

examined as follows : 

Have you ever seen Sir Horace Mann 
write ? — I have seen Sir Horace Mann 
write^very -often. 

Will- you look at No. 7, and' state, 
whether it is Sir Horace Mann's writing? 
— I will certainly admitthat it very much 
resembles the hand-writing of the Hon- 
ourable liaronet ; but though it does 
so resemble it, it is not the usual mode 
of that Honourable Baronet's signing his 
name, for it is signed *' H. Mann," and 



I very frequently correspond with him 
he signs " Hor. Mann." 

Do you believe that to be the hand- 
writing of Sir Horace Mann ? — It has 
something of the character of the hand- 
writing of Sir Horace Mann. 

Do you or not believe that to be Sir 
Horace Mann's hand- writing ? — I cer- 
tainly believe it is. 

Will you look at No. 16 ; is that Sir 
Horace Mann's hand-writing? — I do not 
think it is ; I believe it is not. 

[The following papers were read.] 

No. 7. " I shall rejoice sincerely at 
your success, if it can be an object with 
youto obtain a situation in such a cli- 
mate. The channel you mention may 
be more efficacious than the exertion of 
my interf st, which 1 v^rill strenuously re- 
new if it is necessary, when I see a pros- 
pect of success. 

" Your's faithfully, 

"H. MANN." 
" Margate, July 22d." 

Addressed : 
" Robert Kennett, Esq. No. 13, 
Moore place Lambeth." 

No. 8. 

" Sir, Oatlands, July 16, 1804. 

" I beg leave to acknowledge the re- 
ceipt of your letter of yesterday, which 
I lost no time in laying before the Duke 
of York. I am in consequence directed 
to request you will have the goodness 
to call upon Mr. Greenwood, in Craig's- 
court, on Wednesday next at twelve 
o'clock, his Royal Highness having de- 
sired him to communicate with you oa 
the subject of your letter. 

" 1 have the honour to be, 
" Sir, 
" Your most obedient, 
" Humble Servant, 

"H. TAYLOR." 

No. 9. " Lieut. Colonel Taylor pre- 
sents his compliments to Mr Kennett, 
and begs to acquaint him, that, having 
called this morning upon Mr. Pitt's pri- 
vate Secretaay, for the answer to his 
Royal Highness' application in his fa- 
vour, he has been promised that it will 
be sent in the course of the day, if pos- 
sible, and he will forward it, as soon as 
received, to Mr. Kennett. 
" Horse Guards, Thursday Morning. 

Addressed. 
Robert Kennett, Esq. &c. 

No. 10. " Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor 
presents his compliments to Mr. Ken- 
nett, and is directed by the Duke of 
York to transmit him copy of a letter. 



2?'4 



from Mr. Pitt's private Secretary, in 
reply to tlie applicuiion which his Royal 
Highness made in Mr. Kennett's favour 
for the Collectorship of the Cvistoms at 
Surinam, which answer his Royal Hig-h- 
ness regrets is not conformable to his 
wishes. Colonel Taylor would have 
sent it earlier, had he not been absent 
from London, when it was sent to the 
Horse-Guards. 
" August rth, 1804." 

No. 11. " Downing-Street, 

Friday, 3d Aug. 1804. 
'* My Dear Sir, 

" I have not failed to state to Mr. 
Pitt the wishes of hisRoyalHighnessthe 
Duke of York, communicated through 
you, that he woidd nominate Mr. Ken- 
rretl to the office of Collector of his Ma- 
jesty's Customs of Surinam ; and 1 am 
dirt cted to request that you will submit 
to his Royal Highness, that desirous as 
Mr. Pitt must at all times be to attend 
to his Royal Highness' commands, he is 
fearful that, from prior engagements, he 
is so circumstanced, as not to have it in 
hispowertodo soon the presentoccasion. 
" I am, &c. 
(Shgned) W. D. ADAMS." 

Addressed : 
" Lieut. Col. Taylor." 

No. 12, SURINAM. 

" The follow^ing appointments have re- 
sulted from the surrender of this col- 
ony ;■ viz. 

Sir C. Green, to be Gov. and Com- 
mander in Chief. 

Capt. Drummond, 2d Batt, 60th Regt. 
Brigade Major. 

Capt.' Campbell, 66th Rcgt.Commander 
of Fort Zclandria. 

Capt. Maxwell, R. N. Harbour Master. 

G. Chalmers, Esq. Collector of the 
Customs. 

Laur. Donovan, Esq. Comptroller of 
ditto. 

J. Bent, Esq. Army Agent and Contr. 
for prisoners. 

— — Pringle, Esq. Colonial Secretary. 

R. Ross, Esq. Private Secretary. 

D. Monro, Esq. President Commissary. 

R. A. Hyndm;in, Esq. Resident Pay- 
master. 

Lievit. Rowan, 64th Regt. Aid'de-camp. 

Lieut. Imthurn, 2d Battalion 60th Regt. 
Military Secretary, Vendue Master, 
at a per-centag-e, on the same footing 
as at Dememra." 

The Right Honourable CHARLES 



LONG, attending in his place. Was 

examined as follows : 

Do you recollect ev^i writing a letter 
of which No. 15 purports to be a copy '— 
I have no recollection of it ; it is very 
likely 1 might have written such a letter j 
it does not appear to be a very accurate 
copy ; it is dated " Bromley Park ;" I 
never dated Bromley Park, but Bromley 
Hill. 

[The followingpaper was read : No. 
15, Letter from Mr. Long. 
No. 15. " Bromley Hdl, Kent» 

" Sir, Aug. 30th. 

" I am sure Mr. Pitt would have been 
very happy to have attended to your re- 
quest respecting Mr. Kennett, but I 
know upon the application of the Duke 
of York, he was inf>imed that the office 
of Collector had been appointed to. As 
to the other office, having received a 
letter written by the desire of H. R. H. 
the Duke, I made enquiry respecting it, 
and I do not find that there is any such 
office as AssistantCommissary and Agent 
for Prisoners, (or Commissary General 
as it was called in the Duke's letter) to 
be appointed from hence ; the Com- 
missary General in the \V. Indies, Mr. 
Glassfoi'd, recommends such Deputies 
as he finds necessary for conducting the 
business of his Department, and they 
are usually appointed by the Treasury 
in consequence. The office of Agent 
for Prisoners I conceive to be under (he 
direction and appointment of tiie Trans- 
port Board. 

*' Believe me, Sir, 
Most faithfully yonr's, 

C. LONG." 

fTo Mr. Long. J Can you state to 
whom the letter just read was written \ 
---It appears to be in answer to that of 
Sir Horace Mann's, but I cannot state 
whether it was so or not. 

[The following papers were read.^ 

No. 17. " R. Kennett will be obliged 
to Mr. Greenwood for Mr. Adam's 
address in Scotland, and if he can in- 
form him about what time he will re- 
turn." 

" Saturday Morning." 
Address : 

" W. Adam, Esq. 

Blair Adam, N. Britain. 

No. 19. " Blair Adam, 

" Sir, 4th Oct. 1804, Scotland. 

** I wrote to Mr. Greenwood, wh© 

would probably signify that I had re- 

ceivsd yours, and would go forward 



I 



275 



witli the business as soon as 1 returned 
to town ; I now (in case of your not 
being at a certainly) write to yourself, to 
say that I shall desire to see you as soon 
as 1 return to town, which will be the 
miildle or soon after the middle of this 
month. 

" I am, Sir, 

Your obedient, humble servant, 
William Adam." 
Addressed : 
*♦ Mr. Keunett, 
13, Moore Place, 
■ Lambeth." 

No. 20. " Lieutenant-colonel Taylor 
encloses, for Mr. Kennett's perusal, a 
letter from Mr. Chapman, and is very 
sorry to find irom it tliat the situation of 
Vendue Master is disposed of. Mr. 
Chapman has been out of Town, which 
kccoums for the delay, in regard to the 
receipt of the information now given. 

i' Should Mr. K.. wish to see Col.. T. 
be will be here to-morrow between three 
and five o'clock. 
" Horse-Guards, 
22d Nov. 1804." 

No. 21. "(Private.) 

" Downing-Street, 
22d. Nov. 1804. 
" Dear Taylor, 

" Lord Camden desires me to request 
you will express to the Duke of York 
his great regret, that the office of Vendue 
Master of Surinam was disposed of be- 
fore you communicated his Royal High- 
ness' wish in favour of Mr. Kennett. 
" Believe me. 
Very sincerelv your's, 

J. CHAPMAN." 
** I should have given you an earlier 
answer, but have been out of town." 

Addressed : 
" Lt. Col. Taylor," 
in an envelope to 
" Mr. Kennett, &c. &c. 

Lieutenant-ColonelTAYLORwas called 

m, and examined by tJie Committee, 

as follows : 

Look at that letter. (No. 8.) Is that 
your hand-writing ? — Yes, it is. 

Peruse the letter, and state to whom it 
was addressed ? — I believe to Mr. Ken- 
nett, from whom I have heard of tnis 
business : there is no addi-ess. 

Peruse No. 13, and state to the Com- 
mittee, whether you ever wrote the let- 
ter of which that purports to be a copy I 
—I believe I did. 



Peruse No. 18, and state whether yo« 
ever received the letter of which that 
purports to be a copy .' — I think I did. 

Have you the letter which youi-eceiv- 
ed, of which you believe that to be a 
copy ? — I have not. 

Do you know what is become of it I— 
I believe 1 destroyed it. 

It appears as if this was a draft of twft 
distinct letters ; do you mean that any 
letter you have received contained both 
those letters, or only one of them ? — I 
can only speak from memory ; I think 
the transaction was in 1804 ; it is impos- 
sible for me to charge my memory accu- 
rately respecting it ; I have kept no 
papers upon ti>e subject. 

Which of the two letters do you think 
you received a copy of ? — There is one 
of the letters I can read with difficulty ; 
it is erased, and there are pencil-marks 
in it ; I believe them to be two distinct 
letters. 

Did you receive both ? — I believe I 
did, I can only speak from memory. 

You destroyed both that you4*eceiv- 
ed ? — I am confident I destroyed all I 
received. 

One of these appears to have part 
written in pencil, and part in ink ; can 
you charge your memory whether that 
which you received had that written in 
pencil or that written in ink ? — I cannot 
charge my memory. 

[The following papers were read : No, 
13. Note from Colonel Taylor to 
Mr. Kennett. — No. 18. Rougli draft 
of two letters from Mr. Kennett.^ 

No. 13. '* Colonel Taylor presents 
his compliments to Mr. Kennett, and is 
extremely sorry that he could not wait, 
as the Duke's carriage was waiting for 
him. He is directed by H. R. H. to 
say, that he will apply for the situation of 
Assistant Commissary General, &c. &c. 
at Surinam, but that he will be able to 
do it with more effect if Sir H. Mann 
will write to H. R. H. recommending: 
Mr. Kennett. 
" Robert Kennett, Esq. 

&c. &c. &c. 
Horse-Guards, Aug. 15th." 



" Moore Place, Lambeth, 
Sept. 16th, 1804. 



No. 18. 

•' Sir, 
/ called. 

*' 1 did myself the pleasure of calling 
on Mr. Greenwood yesterday, respect- 
ing the loan to his Royal Highness, and 
of my intention to write to Mr. Adam, 
which I did by last night's post,whercin 



276 



I requested Mr.- A. to say if I could 
forward the business in any way previous 
to his return to town. 

" I beg leave, Sir, also to observe, I 

ivas with the gentleman yesterday in 

and I still Jotter myself with 

the City, respecting the business of Su. 

the possibility of getting the appovMmeiU of C. 

rinam, and who still lioping it" possible, 

to be yet favoured with the appointment 

of the collectorship, (in preference to any 

that H. R. H. wishes 

otlicr) and in the event will he advance 

to any amount the situation in particular 

(of army -agent, &c.) being of trivial 

emolument, adequate to the risk of the 

climate." 

" Sir, 

*' With all due deference and respect 
to his Royal Highness the Duke of York, 
for his application in my behalf of the 
appointment of army-agent, &c. at Su- 
rinam, but as the emoluments of it are 
but trivial, adequate to the risk of the 
climate, (and the short time it mav be in 
«ur possession) I beg leave to decline 
accepting it. 

Permit me, Sir, to obsen-e, 

*♦ ;> As there is yet a probability of 

succeeding to the appointment of Col- 

without presumin^^ 

lectovship of the Customs, I hope * 1 may 

the 
have A preference, but as I believe there 

is no warrant made out for it— but in the 
event that it is inevitably disposed of. 

Sir, in that case, H. K. H's patronage for 
allow me * to solicit a the situation of 
Vendue Master, at aper-centage, on the 
same footing as at Demarara." 

Addressed : 
" Lieut. Col. Taylor, kc. 
Oatlands." 

State to tlie Committee what you 
know of the transaction respectingwhich, 
in your first letter. No. 8, vou desired 
Mr. Kennett to call upon Mr. Green- 
^vood ? As far as I can recollect, Mr. 
Kennett wrote to me at Oatlands a short 
note, stating, that he had something to 
propose to me for the advantage of his 
Royal Highness the Duke of York, and 
desiring, that I would see him ; I am 
not quite certain whether I appointed 
liim tliere or in London, but I think at 
Oatlands. Mr. Kennett mentioned to 
me I think then, or in a note (I cannot 
charge my memory exactly, having kept 
no note,) but I think he verb:illy men- 



tioned to me, that he could procure for 
his Royal Highness the loan of thirty or 
forty thousand pounds ; and as far as I 
recollect that was all that passed then, 
except that I said I should submit it to 
his Royal Highness tlie Duke of York, 
and let him heai* further from me upon 
the subject. 

Do you recollect the date of this con- 
ference with Mr. Kennett ! — I do not. 

State it as n«arly as you can. — I really 
cannot recollect. 

Do you recollect the year ? — I do not 
recollect the year, I was told of it com- 
ing here. 

Do you mean to state that this was 
the first step in this transaction ? — Yes, 
it was. 

That Mr. Kennett volunteered his. 
services ? — he did. 

Did you inform the Duke of York of 
thisappHcationof Mr. Kennett's? — I did. 

What was the result ? — 1 was desired 
to refer Mr. Kennett to Mr. Adam. 

Do you know any thing which took 
place respecting that transaction ? — At 
that time or subsequently, Mr. Kennett 
mentioned to me, that he was very 
much supported by Sir Horace Mann, 
with whom he had been long acquaint- 
ed ; and he told me, that Sir Horace 
Mann had desired him to say he should 
feel very much obliged to me, if I could 
use my influence with the Duke of 
York to assist him in obtaining a situa- 
tion. I am not certain whether that 
was in his first verbal communication, 
or in his second. 

Was the second comunication long 
after the first ? — No, very shortly. 

Between the first and the second, do 
you know whether Mr. Kennett had 
seen Mr. Adam ? — I believe not. 

What passed at that second meeting ? 
— I really cannot state exactly what 
passed ; I cannot churge my memory 
with tlie particulars. 

Did you state to the Duke of York 
when the offer of the loan was made by 
Mr. Kennett, that Sir Horace Mann 
would be much obliged to the Duke if 
he could procure for Sir. Kennett a 
place ? — Mr. Kennett's communication 
respecting Sir Horace Mann was sub- 
sequent to the ofler of the loan ; the of- 
fer of the loan had been communicated 
to his Royal Highness previous to the 
communication respecting Sir Horace 
Mann. 

Are you certain that the communica- 
tion respecting Sir Horace Mann was at 



itrt 



the second meeting- ?— I am almost cer- 
tain, as f;ir as I can be from recollection. 

Are you certain that it was after the 
first conversation whh Mr. Taylor ?— I 
have stated that it was subsequent to 
the first. 

Do you mean to state that you are 
riot certain whether it was at the second 
or some subsequent meeting ? — Yes, it 
certainly was not at the first. 

Did you ever state that communica- 
tion respecting Sir Horace Mann's 
wishes to the Duke of York ?— 7I did. 

How soon after Mr. Keniiett had in- 
formed you of that wish of Sir Horace 
Mann's did you mention it to the Duke 
of York ? — I think almost immediately. 

You do not know what interval there 
was between the offer of the loan and 
thatcommvmication respecting Sir Ho- 
race Mann's wishes ? — I really cannot 
say. 

Was the negotiation of the loan ever 
concluded ? — I believe not ; but I do 
not know : for his Royal Highness has 
not been in tlie habit of employing me 
in his money transactions. 

Do you know any thing more of that 
negotiation about the loan ? — Mr Ken- 
nett called upon me several times, and 
mrote to me occasionally ; but it is very 
difficult for me to recollect what passed 
upon the subject, from the time that 
has elapsed ; but as far as I recollect, 
Mr. Kennett mentioned to me repeat- 
edly, that he had seen Mr. Adam : he 
complained of Mr. Adam's delay ; and 
at one time he said, he really began to 
think that his Royal Highness and Mr. 
Adam were indifi'erent about the loan, 
from having been put oil" so often as he 
had been. 

State to the Committee what yon 
know with respect to the steps taken 
to procure Mr. Kennett a place, and 
the correspondence with Mr. Adam and 
others upon that transaction ? — In con- 
sequence of Mr. Kennett's communi- 
cation to me, particularly that in which 
he mentioned that Sir Horace Mann 
was very much interested in his favour, 
I stat«d to his Royal Highness the Duke 
of York Mr. Kennett's wish to obtain 
an office ; those offices were specified 
by him ; I do not recollect what they 
were, and his Royal Highness author- 
ized me to write to Mr. Long upon the 
subject ; I do not recollect writing any 
other letter ; I probably have, but I 
cannot charge my memory, having had 
no reference to papers. 
36 



Were the two letters of which you 
have read that copy, (No 18.) shewn 
to the Duke of York ? — I cannot recol- 
lect, but I believe not. 

Was tiie substance stated to the Duke 
of York ? — I dare say it was. 

Have you any doubt that it was ?-^ 
I have no doubt that I did state it to the 
Duke, nor that I can positively say that 
I did ; but I probably did. 

Was it in tiie regular course that 
you should state it to the Duke ? — I 
certainly should have stated it to the 
Duke if I received such letters, believ- 
ing the communication to be intended 
for him 

Do you know whether Mr Kennett 
ever obtained an appointment ? — I un- 
derstood not. 

What was the situation about the 
Duke of York which you filled at that 
time ? — I was private secretary to his 
Royal Highness. 
\_T\\Q witness was directed to withdraw. 

CHARLES GREENWOOD, Esq. was 

called in, and examined by the Com- 
mittee, as follows : 

Do you recollect Mr. Kennett coming 
to you ? — I do. 

State to the Committee all you know 
respecting that transaction. I know very 
little about the transaction, further thaa 
Mr. Kennett's calling upon me, I under- 
stood by the Duke of York's commands, 
communicated by Colonel Taylor ; I 
heard what he had to say, but I consid- 
ered it a wild proposal, and did not 
much attend to it. 

When was this \ — I really cannot re- 
collect the time. 

What was the proposal which you 
state to have been a wild proposal ?— 
A very large loan, and without any thing 
required but personal security ; that 
was tlie proposal to the bestof my recol- 
lection ; I may be mistaken. 

To what extent was the loan ? — To 
the best of my recollection 30,000/. ; I 
am not at all clear upon it, but 1 think 
it was so. 

Did Mr. Kennett state to you, that h6 
wished for any thing else in consequence 
of the advance of this sum of money, 
besides personal security ? — I under- 
stood his object was to obtain some 
appointment tor a friend. 

What sort of appointment ? — I do not 
recollect. 

Do you know who that friend was ? 
—I do not. 



^7B 



Do you mean an appointment under 
government ? — I concluded so ; upon 
recollection, I doubt whether it was not 
some appointment in tlie West Indies 
that was his aim. 

Did you state this conversation to the 
Duke of York ? — I stated tlie substance 
of it. 

WHiat was the Duke's observation ? — 
I do not think that his Royal Highness 
pave mucli attention to it, but said it 
niiglit be inquired into, or something to 
that effect. 

Do you know whether it was inquired 
into ?— 1 rather thii\k that Colonel Tay- 
lor or Mr. Adam, lam not clear which, 
had directions to inquire about it. 

Do you know, of your own knowl- 
edge, any thing more about it ? — I re- 
ally do not. 

Did you ever see Mr. Kennett. upon 
the subject afterwards ?-- He called up- 
on me two or three times. 

What passed upon those occasions ? — 
Repeating his ofi'ers, and I paying very 
little attention to them. 

Did he at each time repeat his appli- 
cation for a situation under government ? 
— I do not recollect that he did. 

Are you certain about it ? — He might 
have possibly stated his wish for an ap- 
pointment under government more than 
once ; I cuimot be certain of it ; but in 
general the conversations wei-e very 
short with me. 

Did you commtmicate those conver- 
sations to the Duke of York ? — 1 do not 
tiiink that I did, all of them. 

Did you communicate some of them 
to the Duke of York ? — I remember 
telling the Duke of York, that I did 
not think it was a proposal that could be 
of any ettect. 

Did you ever state to the Duke of 
York his wish to obt.iin the situation 
under government ? — I believe I did. 

Did Kennett ever applj for a situation 
under government for himself? — Not to 
iny knowledge. 

Always for a friend ?— I always un- 
derstood him so. 

Ai-e you certain that he so stated it ! 
—I am certain that 1 understood him so. 

Did you know who Mr.K.ennnet was ? 
— I heard tliat he had been in trade in 
Bond street. 

Did you know what profession he 
carried on at that time ?— No. 

Did you kiow where hr lived ? — No, 
1 rathej" think he lived S(..me where be- 



yond Westminster bridge, but I do not 
know where. 

Did you know that he had been a 
bankrupt ? — I do not know that for cer- 
tain, I knew he had been in trade, but 
wh.ethcr he had failed or not, 1 do not 
rec: llect. 

Did you ever inquire into this man*s 
character ? — I had heard an indift'erent 
character, I did not inquire about him. 

Did you state the result of those in- 
quiries to the Duke of York ? — I believe 
I stated that he was a man not to be at- 
tended to ; I tliink so. 

Are you not certain that you did so ?— 
I think it must be so, because it was 
my feeling. 

You have no doubt th.at you did sO 
state ? — I have no doubt that 1 did. 

[The witness was directed to with- 
draw. 

LIEUT. COL. TAYLOR was again 
called in, and examined by the Com- 
mittee, as follows : 
Pending the transaction with Mr.Ken- 
nett, which you have mentioned, did 
you make any inquiry respecting his 
character ? — I did not, he was only 
known to me from Sir Horace Mann's 
recommend.ition. 

Did any friend of yours state to yo« 
any thing he knew of him ? — In tlie 
course of his visits to the Horse-Guards, 
where he came three or four times, 
more or less, was met by a person who 
asked me whether I h.ad long known 
him ; I stated to him that I only knew 
him from Sir Horace Mann's recom- 
mendation, and from his communi- 
cations to me subsequent to that. He 
then told me, that he had formerly 
known him ; I think he said he had 
been a stock-broker, but I am not cer- 
tain ; but I am certain that he said he 
had failed, and that there were circum- 
stances attending his failure which were 
not to his credit, and he cautioned me 
against him. 

Did you communicate to his Royal 
Highness the Duke of York this infor- 
mation ? — I did. 

What passed between yourself and 
his Royid Highness in consequence of 
your making this communication !---Hi8 
Royal Highness ordered me in conse- 
quence, to drop every furtlier applica- 
tion in his favour. 

Is there any other circumstance con- 
nected with tlie communic^tiijns you 



279 



iield with Mr. Kennett that you can 
recollect, and which is material to this 
inquiry ?— I cannot say I recollect any 
otlier. 

Do you recollect when that informa- 
tion was given you, respecting Mr.Kcn- 
nett ! — I do not, it was after I had had 
several communications with liim, as I 
have before stated. 

Had you any communication with him 
afterwards ? — None that I recollect ; I 
might have had some verbal communi- 
cation with him, but none that was ma- 
terial, certainly. 

From whom was it you received this 
information ; — I was desired by the 
person giving me the information not 
to name him. 

J^The witness was directed to withdraw. 
[The witness was again called in.] 
When you first saw Mr. Kennett, did 
he come recommended by Sir Horace 
Mann ? — He did not. 

Did you see him frequently before he 
was recommended by Sir Horace Mann ? 
—I think it was the second time that he 
mentioned the interest Sir Horace Mann 
took in his favour, and I think he brought 
a letter from Sir Horace Mann to me. 

Did he bring that letter in conse- 
quence of any wish expressed by you 
that he should bring some recommenda- 
tion before you would enter into a ne- 
gotiation of this sort ? — He did not, the 
recommendation from Sir Horace Mann 
was spontaneous. 

Did you not know that Mr. Kennett 
had been a bankrupt ? — 1 did not, I knew 
nothing of Mr. Kennett till 1 received 
that information. 

[The witness was directed to with- 
draw. 

WILLIAM ADAM, Esq. attending in 
his place, was exaniined by the Com- 
mittee, as follows : 
State to the Committee what you 
know of this transaction.— Wiien this 
transaction was begun to be stated by 
Mr. Duff, and that he mentioned Mr. 
Kennett, I had not, at first, the most 
distant recollection of such a transaction 
ever having taken place ; but as Mr. 
Duff went on and stated some circum- 
stances, the recollection of such a tran- 
saction recurred to my mind, and the 
circumstance of my two notes and my 
letter having been put in my hand, has 
xnade that recollection still more ac- 
curate, as fax- as it h possible for me to 



ciill that accurate at all which rests in 
recollection at so long u distance of 
time. I remember to have seen Mr. 
Kennett on the business of this proposed 
loan, and upon that only ; nothing, as 
far as I can recollect, was ever stated to 
me by him but that ; and the first im- 
pression I now recollect that 1 had of it 
was, that it would not turn out a loati 
that could be entered into. I appre- 
hend that soon after my first interview, 
if I had more than one with him in the 
month of August, I must have left town 
for Scotland, and, consequently, have 
known nothing of what was proceeding, 
if any thing was proceeding in the inter- 
val ; and 1 can only accoimt for the lust 
letter, the letter written from Scotland, 
in this way ; that previous to my de- 

Earture from my residence there, I had 
een considering the difi'erent matters 
I was to enter into probably when I re- 
turned to town, and amongst the rest 
had written upon that subject. I do not 
recollect ever to have seen Mr. Kennett 
after my return ; at the same time I 
think it is probable that I may have 
seen him, but the loan was put an 
end to, and all intercourse with Mr.Ken- 
nelt was put an end to without any 
thing being done. I think it right to 
say, that I knew nothing at all of Mr. 
Kennett when he first called upon me, 
or any thing respecting his character. 
This is all I can call to my recollection. 

Didyou make any inquiries respecting 
the character of Mr. Kennett ? — I have 
no doubt that I must have made inqui- 
ries, though I cannot recollect them ; 
and I think the information, which Col. 
Taylor mentions, must have been com- 
municated to me. 

Do you mean that it w.is communi- 
ca')ed to you by Colonel Taylor ? — I can 
only say that I presume it was, but I 
cannot speak from any certain recol- 
lection. 

You cannot say whether you heard 
it from Colonel Taylor ? — I cannot say 
positively whether I heard it from Col. 
Taylor. 

Nor can you recollect when you heard 
it ? — I cannot recollect when I heard it, 
but I think it must have been after my 
return from Scotland, in October 1804. 

What was that information ? — That lie 
was a person not at all likely to accom- 
plish the object, iind a person of the 
character which has been alluded to by 
Colonel Taylor. 



280 



GWYLLIM LLOYD WARDLE, 

(having- delivered in some Letters) 

was examined by the Committee as 

follows : 

Are the letters which you have now 
delivered in, the letters which are allu- 
ded to in Mrs. Clarke's letter of the 
28th of January ? — ^I presume they are ; 
they are the letters of the officers she 
was to have got recommendations for ; 
1 know of no other letters, and I possess 
Jio others. 

State, with as much accuracy as you 
can, the time when you received these 
letters from Mrs. Clarke ? — I have no 
memorandums enabling me to state tl»e 
date precisely. 

In what year was it ? — It was within 
the last two montiis. 

Are they the letters stated to have 
been delivered to you with a view to fa- 
cilitate some ncf^otiation ? — Yes, I sup- 
pose so ; tliey are letters of recommen- 
dation of oflicers for promotion, which 
I understood from Mrs. Clarke were 
sent to her by Mr. Donnovan for her to 
get further recommendations upon. 

WILLIAM ADAM, Esq. was exam- 
ined in his place, as follows : 

Were you consulted as to whether 
the annuity to Mrs. Clarke should or 
should not be paid ? — No, 1 did not 
know of its having' ceased to be paid. 

Then the Committee are to under- 
stand youdid not advise the non-payment 
of the annuity .'—Certainly I did not. 

Was it known to you that the Duke 
refused to pay his annuity ? — 1 knew it 
in no other way than by the commimi- 
cations which I had with his Royal High- 
ness, as well as 1 can recollect, at the 
time I received those letters from Mrs. 
Clarke, which have been laid upon the 
table of the House. 

Do you know the reason of such refusal ? 
— I did not know the specific fact or facts 
that was the cause of the discontinuance 
of the payment of the annuity, but I 
know in general from the same source, 
I mean from conversations with his Roy- 
al Highness, that the annuity was dis- 
continued in consequence of an impres- 
sion upon his mind, that Mrs. Clarke's 
conduct had not been such as to fall 
witliin the condition upon wliich the an- 
nuity was originally granted ; when I 
say originally granted, I do not mean to 
have it inferred that there was any reg- 
ular grant of the annuity, but that I was 
desired to slate at tlie time that 1 com- 



municated to Mrs. Clarke that his Royal 
Highness was not to see her again ; i 

that she was to receive a quarterly sum 1 
in the manner that I have stated in my 'I 
former evidence, 100/. a quarter. 

Did the discontinuance of that annuity 
arise at all from the Duke's knowledge ■ 
of her interference in militai-y promo- f | 
tions ? — I had no reason to believe that 
his Royal Highness was at all acquainted 
with any such interference at the time 
the annuity discontinued. I wish to add, 
that the annuity was an annuity, tlie pay- 
ment of which, as I have already stated 
in my evidence, did not fall within any 
fund of his Royal Highness' that was 
under my administration. I hope the 
Committee will not think it improper I 
should go on to state, that this matter 
may be clearly and distinctly under- 
stood, which was a little misunderstood 
on a former night, notw ithslanding the 
manner in which I endeavoured to ex- 
press myself in the early part of this pro- 
ceeding, that that portion of his Royal 
Highness' income which he retains for 
his own expenditure in his ftimily, on his 
property, and in whatever other mode 
his expenditure is applied, is not in the 
least within the province of my trust or 
knowledge : that all that is within my 
trust or knowledge is, that sum which 
has been appropriated byhis Royal High- 
ness towards the payment of the inter- 
est and the the liquidation of the princi- 
pal of those debts. 

State, if you can, at what time, and by 
whom the impression was made upon 
his Royal Highness' mind to which you 
have referred? — I certainly do not know 
by whom it was made, nor do I know at 
what time it was made. 1 have already 
stated the time at which I first became 
acquainted witli it, or nearly so. 

Mrs MARY ANN CLARKE wa8 call- 
ed in, and examined by the Commit- 
tee, as follows : 

Are these the letters which you de- 
livered to Mr. Wardle, in order, as you 
stated in your letter to Mr. Donovan, 
to faciUtate some negotiation ? — [_The 
letters delivered in by Mr. Wardle being 
shevjH to the viitness.'\ Yes, these ai"e 
the letters. 

When did you deliver these letters to 
Mr. Wardle? — Soon after I received 
them from Mr. Donovan. 

When did you receive them from Mr. 
Donovan ? — 1 do not recollect. 

The letters appear to be all dated in 



381 



the beginning of the year 1808, had you 
tliem in your possession from the time 
of the dates until you delivered them to 
Mr. Wardle ? — I cannot exactly say. 

Look at that letter, and say whose 
hand writing it is ? — [-4 U-tter being 
theivn to the luitness.J 1 do not know. 

Look at that letter, (No. 2-) and say 
wiiose hand-writing you believe that to 
be ' — I do not know the hands at all. 

Look at the letter, (No. 3.) and say 
whose hand writing you believe that to 
be ?— rl do not know. 

These letters purport to be certificates 
from officers ; did you give tliese let'ers 
to Mr. Wardle witha viewtohisprocur- 
ing tlie signature of any member of parli- 
ament as an additional recommendation, 
not knowing whose hand-writing the ori- 
ginal recommendation was ? — I gave an- 
other to General Clavering, and he took 
the precaution of inquiring at Mr. Green- 
wood's, or the Adjutant-General's. 1 be- 
lieve it is one of those I gave to General 
Clavering, that signed " Ross." 

These letters pui'port to be certificates 
from oflicers ; did you give these letters 
to Mr. Wardle with a view to his procur- 
ing the signature of any member ol" par- 
liament as an additional recommeiida- 
ti(m, not knowing whose hand- writing 
the original recommendation was ? — Yes, 
Mr. Donovan told me they were all cor- 
rect, and that they were the officers' re- 
commendations in a proper manner. 

Did Mr. Donovan tell you they were 
the hand-writing of the respective offi- 
cers whose hand-writing they purport 
to be ? — Yes, he did. 

Do you now know the hand-writing 
of the person who wrote either of these 
letters ! — No, I do not. 

Do you know the hand- writing of Mr. 
Donovan ? — Yes, I have had a great 
many letters from Mr. Donovan. 

Look at that letter, and say whether 
that is not the hand-writing of Mr. Do- 
novan ? — I think that looks very like it, 
but I would not take upon m« to say it 
is, when it is signed " William Wal- 
lace ;" I thinks it looks very like it. 

At the time you received that letter, 
did you conceive that the body of the 
letter was of the hand-writing of Mr. 
Donovan ? — No, I certainly did not, nor 
should without looking at it again. I 
would not think that a man would pre- 
sume to put another man's signature ; 
and I am not siu-e that it is liis writing 
now, but it very Utie it.. 



Was the only reason for your not sup- 
posing it to be the hand-writing of Mr- 
Donovan at the time that you received 
it, that the signature was the signature 
of another person ? — 1 never made any 
remarks upon it at all ; perhaps 1 did 
not read it. 

Did you put letters into the hands of 
a member of parliament to procure his 
recommendation, those letters being 
original recommendations themselves, 
without reading them ? — Yes, I should, 
because the person would take care that 
it would be proper before he go^ any 
thing done, as general Clavering did ; 
he went to ascertain the writing, and 
found it to be correct, as he told me. 

Look at both the letters signed 
"Wallace." — [^Thcy were both shewn to 
the ivitnts^.'] One is only a copy of the 
other letter. Mr. Donovan has copied 
this letter ; I suppose you perceive that ; 
if you read them, they are both the 
same. 

When did you receive the copy, and 
when did you receive the original ? — I 
cannot tell ; here they both are ; I caw 
tell nothing further than that. 

Did you receive tliem both at the 
same time ? — I cannot tell. 

The letters are not merely a ropy ; 
one is addressed at the bottom, and the 
other is not ? — General Leigh is left 
ovit in one. 

Which is tlic original ? — That I will 
leave to the honourable House to find 
out ; but the other is addressed <m the 
outside to General Leigh, that is tlie only 
difference ; what is at the bottom of one 
is on the outside of the other ; it is only 
a half slieet of paper, that he could not 
put it upon the back perhaps. 

How do jou know that Mr. Donovan 
has copied the one from the other ? — Be- 
cause it appears from looking at tiicni ; 
I think that the looking at them would 
convince any one. 

You have now no doubt of one of 
these letters being Mr. Donovan's hand- 
writing ? — No, I think one is his hand- 
writing perhaps ; it is very likely ; I do 
not know. 

Are these the letters which you state 
yourself, in your letter to Donovan of 
the 28th of January, to have put into 
Mr. Wardle's hands for the purpose of 
facilitating the negotiations I — Yes, I 
think they are ; but Gen. Clavering had 
one ; I do not know what is beconicf of 
that. 



282 



Are these all the letters you put into 
Mr. Wardle's hands for the purpose of 
facilitaling the negotiation ? — Yes. 

And to which you i-efer in your letter 
of the 28th of January ?— Yes. 

Explain to the Committee in what 
manner you conceived these letters in 
Mr. Wardle's hands were to facilitate a 
negotiation ? — He told me he would get 
some recommendations fi'om some mem- 
bers of pai-liament. 

Mr. W.irdle told you that he would use 
those letters for the purpose of fRcilitating 
this negotiation,by getting the signature 
of some members of parliament ? — Yes, 
he did, and he has made a different use 
of them ; I dare say he never tried. 

Then you were led by Mr. Wardle to 
expect he would accomplish the object 
for which you put these letters into his 
hands, that of fixcilitating a negotiation 
from which you were to receive some 
pecuniary advantage ?— Yes, but I find 
now he was only laughing at me ; it was 
only to get into the secrets of Donovan 
and myself. 

What was the reason assigned for the 
non-payment of the annuity, or was there 
any reason assigned ? — There was no 
reason whatever assigned. 

Do you recollect what the conditions 
were upon which the annuity was to be 
paid ?— No, there were no conditions at 
all ; Mr. Adam promised faithful!)', both 
to me and to my lawyer, to see it punc- 
tually paid. I believe you are going to 
call in Mr.Reid ; it is quite unnecessary, 
for I do not deny any thing Mr. Reid 
said about sending me wine. 

Why, if the letters now produced are 
the letters you delivered to Colonel 
"Wardle for tlie purpose of facilitating 
some negotiations wliich relate to army 
promotions, do you describe one of them, 
in your letter of the 28th of January, as 
referring to two deaneries ?-In my opin- 
ion it did not refer to any such tiling. 
[^Mrs. Clarke's letter to Mr. Dono- 
van, of the 28th of January was 
read.] 
Those are the letters he took away. 

Can you state nearly the total amount 
of the different sums that were paid on 
your account by the Duke of York, da- 
ring the period you continued under his 
protection ?~I know nothing at all about 
k, what he paid. 

Do you recollect whether your coach- 
nan, in Gloucester-place, was on board- 
\-iages ? — He lived in the house till he 



married, and then he was on board- 
wages. 

Mr. REID being called as a witness, 
Mis. Clarke — I beg to ask, whether 
it is necessary for Mr. Reid to be called 
in while I am here ; may I not take the 
sense of the Honourable House upon 
that? 

[Mr. Reid not bein^ in attendance, 
the witness was directed to with- 
draw.] 

GWYLLYM LLOYD WARDLE, 

Esq. was examined in his place, as 

follows : 

Did Mrs. Clarke put any letters into 
your hands, avowedly for the pui-pose of 
facilitating the negotiation, and stating 
that to be the object ? — She put them 
into my hands, and said, she wished I 
would get them signed for her ; but till 
she made known the circumsttmce last 
night, I really did not know wTiat she 
meant by the term Negotiation. 

What answer did you make to this 
proposal ? — Really, I believe, I said my 
friends were on the wrong side of the 
House, or some answer of that descrip- 
tion, and tliat very little more passed ; 
and I took the letters and kept them 
ever since. 

Then if you stated, that yoxir friends 
were on the wrong side of the House, 
what led you to make that statement, 
not understanding what she meant by 
facilitating tlie negotiation ? — Certainly, 
when I heard her note read, I had~not 
the most distant idea of what she meant,, 
nor had I till 1 heard her state the cir- 
cumstances last night. 

Were the letters she put into your 
hands for the purpose of facilitating the 
negotiation, the three letters you have 
delivered in this evening, or the letters 
referred to in her letter to Mr. Donovan 
of the 28th Jimuary ? — I believe the let- 
ters referred to in her letter of tlie 28th 
January were on the table of this Hoxise 
at the time she wrote that note, or very 
nearly so : I had the letters she refers to 
in that note a long period before that let- 
ter was \\Titten ; Ihad the letters respect- 
ing the deanery and the Qiieen, I be- 
lieve long prior to my having those I 
have delivered in to-night. 

Then tlie Committee is to \mderstand, 
thatthelettersreferred to inMrs. Clarke's 
letter to Mr. Donovan of the 28th of 
Jantiary, as having been put into your 
hands ior the purpose of facilitating the 



383 



nepotiatioTi, were not the letters de- 
■cribedby Mrs. Clarke in her letter to 
Mr. Donovan ? — I should conceive it 
impossible, for I hud h:id them a long 
period before, and I believe they were 
upon the table of this House at the time 
she wrote that letter. 

Were you aware ihat one of those let- 
ters which you delivered in this evening 
was in the hand-writing of Mr.Donovan ? 
—I certainly was not, I liardly ever 
looked at them till to-day ; I perceived 
that one was a copy, but I never attend- 
ed to it at all. 

[The following extract from Mrs. 
Clarke's evidence was read. 

^ " Explain to the Committee in 
what manner you conceive those letters 
in Mr. Wardle's hands were to facilitate 
a negotiation ? — A. He told me he would 
get some i-ecommendations from some 
members of parliament. — ^ Mr. War- 
die told you that he would use those let- 
ters for the purpose of facilitating this 
negotiation, by getting thti signature of 
some members of parliament ? — A. Yes, 
he did ; and he has made a different use 
©f them ; 1 dare Say he never tried." 

Is that statement which has just been 
read, true ? — I have before stated, that 
when Mrs. Clarke gave me these letters, 
I said, that my friends were on the wrong 
side of the House, or something of that 
kind ; and I really do not recollect that 
any thing further passed upon the sub- 
ject. 

Did you make the promise which Mrs. 
Clarke has stated you made ; — 1 certain- 
ly did make no direct promise ; I gave 
her that sort of answer, whidh I have a 
dozen times repeated to this Committee. 

Did you make any promise whatever, 
direct or indirect ? — I have answered 
that question frequently ; I never said 
more to her upon the subject than I have 
stated to the House. 

Is Mrs. Clarke's statement true or 
false ? — Really, after I have most posi- 
tively stated all that passed upon the sub- 
ject, I should think the l-.onourable gen- 
tleman is as equal to draw the conclusion 
as I am myself, it depends so much upon 
the impression at the moment, and my 
actions at the time. I was anxious to get 
the letters ; that I made any direct or 
positive promise I am not at all aware ; 
by my taking the letters away she might 
draw that conclusion, but I have not the 
least recollection of such a promise hav- 
ing been made by me. 

Can you positively .state to the Hguse 



that you did not give Mrs. Clarke rea- 
son to believe when you left her, that 
you would carry into efll:;ct her wishes 
as far as was in your power ? — I have 
before stated, that I do not recollect 
making her any promise whatever. 

Did you directly or indirectly, prom- 
ise Mrs. Clarke that you would comply 
with her request ? — Whether or not my 
taking away the letters, and making her 
the answer I have before repeated, 
might indirectly lead her to suppose I 
would do it, is more than I can say. 

Captain HUXLEY SANDON was call- 
ed in, and examined by the Commit- 
tee, as follows : ^ 
You were examined the other day on 
the subjectof Major Tonyn's promotion ;, 
did you on that occasion state all the par- 
ticulars you recollected of that transac- 
tion ? — To the best of my recollection I 
did. 

You did not keep back any important 
fact ? — No, not that I recoltect. 

You stated that Major Tonyn was dis- 
satisfied with the delay ; that you ob- 
served to him, that he had better wait a 
few days, for that j'ou thought in all pro- 
bability he would be gazetted ; and, af- 
ter arguing the point for a little time, he 
said, for two or three gazettes it doe» 
not signify ; let the business go on ; and 
if I find I am gazetted in a week or ten 
days, the business shall be as it originally 
was ? — I believe that was what I men- 
tioned. 

And that was whattben passed ?-That 
Is what I bring to my recollection. 

That is all you can bring to your recol- 
lection ! — Yes. 

Did it pass in those words ? — As near- 
ly as I can recollect. 

Do you recollect any of the arguments 
yon used to persuade Major Tonyn to 
think that this friend of yours had an 
opportunity of influencing the Duke ?— 
Not particularly ; I told him I thought 
he had better wait two or three gazettes, 
and most probably he would be gazetted; 
indeed I had reason to suppose th.'it it 
would : that was all I can recollect. 

Did you inform Mrs. Clarke of Mr. 
Tonyn's inclination to withdraw his mo- 
ney ? — Yes, I did ; I waited upon Mrs. 
Clarke, which I related before, and told 
her he was dissatisfied at the delay, and 
desired he might have this memoranduia 
again, which was for the 500 guineas. 

Do you recollect what passed with 
Mrs. Clarke upon thnt ?— Mrs. Cliukc 



284 



said he was a shabby fellow, but she 
■wanted money, and begged tluit I would 
desire liiin to stop for a lew days, and 
most probably he would be g-azetted. 

That is all that you can recollect that 
she desired ? — That is all that I can re- 
collect she desired. 

You are quite sure of this ? — To the 
best of my recollection. 

Recollect yourself thoroughly that 
3'ou may not be taken by surprise ; will 
you now continue to state, that, to the 
best of your recollection, this was all 
that passed ? — I think it is all that pass- 
ed, that is my opinion. 

Do you recollect whether there was 
any paper shewn to Major Tonyn in the 
course of that conversation ' — A paper, 
how you mean ? 

Was there any paper shewn to Major 
Tonyn ? — Mrs. Clarke gave me a note 
that I should shew to him. 

Tlien you did not state all that passed ? 
— I took her note to say he had better 
wait. 

A note from Mrs. Clarke ? — Not im- 
mediately a note from Mrs. Clarke to 
him ; she said, shew him this note, that 
he had better wait. He doubted that ; 
he doubled that I had any body that I 
could apply to, he doubted my ability 
to get the situation. 

Then you did use some other argu- 
ments than those you stated in } our evi- 
dence by the production of this note ? — 
1 merely said I thought this was the bu- 
siness. I did not mention who it was 
that was the interest ; 1 said 1 had a]5a- 
per vfcrhich would shew that probably he 
liad better wait ; merely to say, that he 
had better wait. 

What was the note to say, thatMajor 
Tonyn had better wait ? — That I cannot 
recollect, I cannot charge my memory 
wliat it was. 

Do you recollect from whom the note 
was .'---From Mrs Clarke. 

A note from Mrs. Clarke to yourself? 
—Yes, merely to say that if he would 
wait a little time he would have it. 

The note you shewed was u note from 
Mrs. Clarke to yourself, to prevail upon 
Major Tonyn to tiiink he had better 
wait ?— Whether the note was addressed 
1o rac, or to any other person I cannot 
say ; but it was said, you had better 
take this note, and shew to him, and let 
him see, that if he will wait, the thing 
wiill be carried through. 

Your recollection is, that it was to 
the cttcct of advising Major Tonyn to 



wait a little while ?— To wait with pa-, 
tience for a few gazette days. 

That is the substance of it ?."That 
was the substance of it, as well as I re- 
member. 

Did you see Mrs. Clarke write the 
note wlien you called upon her .'—I do 
not recollect that I did. 

You are not sure that you did not ?-*- 
I am neither sure that I did, nor that I 
did not, she was very impatient about 
the money. 

You have no recollection whether you 
saw her write the note or not ? — No. 

You are qiiite sure you received a 
note from her ? — Yes, I am quite sure I 
received a note from her. 

Did you see Mr. Clarke more than 
once, to communicate to her the doubts 
of Major Tonyn ?— I cannot recollect, I 
cannot call to my memory whether I did 
see her again. 

There was not more than one note ?— 
No, I had only that piece of paper which 
I mentioned. 

Do you recollect what you did with 
the note ? — did you give it to Major 
Tonyn ? — That I do not recollect, whe- 
ther I gave it to Major Tonyn, or what 
became of the note. 

You really do not recollect ?— No, I 
do not. 

Though you are not quite sure whe- 
ther you saw Mrs. Clarke write the note 
or not. are you certain whether it was 
Mrs. Clarke's hand-writing ? — I cannot 
pretend to say, I rather think it was. 

Have you always stated this part of 
the case in the same way ? — I believe I 
have, I think I have. 

Did you never tell any body that this 
note was a note in the nand writing of 
his Royal Highness the Duke of York ? 
— Not that I recollect. 

Are you sure of that ? — I am very 
confident of it. 

When did you first he.ar of these 
charges against his Royal Highness the 
Duke of York ?— I landed at Plymouth, 
I think, on the 24th of the month, and 
incoming from Plymouth to Portsmouth, 
by accident I took up the Traveller, and 
tliere I read these charges. 

Do you know Colonel Hamilton ? — 
Perfectly well ; I have the honour of 
being in the regiment with him. 

Did you represent to Colonel Hamil- 
ton this part of the story in the way you 
hive repn sented it now ?— I certainly 
ask d Colonel Hamilton's advice how I 
should act upon the business, being the 



285 



colonel of the regiment I belonged to, 
and I related chiefly what I knew of the 
business. 

What yon have stated now ? — Yes. 

RcroUect youiself ; did you not stale 
to Colonel Hamilton that the note wliicii 
you shewed to Major Tonyn was in the 
hand-writing' of the Duke of York .' — I 
do not recollect that I did. 

Coidd you have done so ? — I should 
imagine not. 

Are you sure you did not shew him 
the note ?— If I had, I certainly should 
not- have forgotten it. 

That is not quite an answer to the 
question ? — I had not the note to sliew. 

Did you not eitlicr give or permit Col- 
onel Hamilton to take a copy of this very 
note that wc are talking ni ? — Not that 
I know of. 

You surely must know that fact, whe- 
ther you gave him a copy, or gave him 
an opportunity of taking a copy of this 
note ? — I really cannot bring it lo my re- 
collection. 

If you had not the note in yourposses- 
.sion, you surely would be able to bring 
to your recollection whether you gave 
him an opportunity of copying it ] — I ra- 
ther think there was somcthijigof a note. 
When was it, tiiat you now begin to re- 
collect there was something of a note ? 
— It must be when Colonel Hamilton 
took the note, or saw the note. 

Then he did take the note ? — He mtist 
liave seen the note of course, if he took 
a copy of it. 

You told me you thought he did not 
take a copy of it ? — I cannot pretend to 
say whether he took a copy of it. 

Do you mean to say, that there was 
or was not a note referable upon this sub- 
ject which you shewed to Colonel Ham- 
ilton ? — Yes, 1 think there was a note. 

Was it the same note you shewed to 
MajorTon)!! ? — That I do not recollect; 
I rather suppose it must have been the 
note that I did shew to Major Tonyn. 

Did you tell Colonel Hamilton that it 
was the same note ! — I do not recollect 
that circumstance at all, whether I did 
tell Colonel Hamilton it was the same 
note. 

Your memory, at the first time a ques- 
tion is put to you, is not always so per- 
fect as it is afterwards ; do you recollect 
whetlier you did represent it to Colonel 
Hamilton as the same note you had 
shewn to Major Tonjn ? — I shewed 
Colonel Hamilton the note. 

You now recollect that there was a 
37 



note, and that you shewed it to Colonel 
Hamilton ? — Yes, perfectly. 

What is become of that note ?— I be- 
lieve the note is mislaid. 

When ditl you see it last, I saw it 
about six days ago, 1 think. 

A note that you did not recollect to 
have i)cc n in existence when you began 
your examinanon, you now recoiled to 
have been in existence six days ag<; ] — 
Yes. 

Have you looked for it lately ] — Yes. 
When .'—Yesterday and the day be- 
fore. 

This note which you did not recollect 
to have been in existence ?---It is true } 
could I iiave lound it, I should have 
brought it. 

1 think you were examined just six 
days ago '--Was it six ? I really do not 
recollect the day 

Did you see that note the day of your, 
last exanunation !---It might be the day 
after, or the day, but I cannot recollect 
which. 

You have done all you could within 
these few days to fnid it l—l certaiidy 
have. 

Are you quite sure youliave not actti- 
ally desli'oyed it f -That I am very con- 
fident I have not. 

Are you quite sure that you have not 
said you had destroyed it :— No, never 
did I say that I had'destroyed it to any 
body. 

Did you not tell Colonel Hamilton 
that you had destroyed it ? -No. 

That you ate positive of ?— That I am 
certam of 

Did Colonel Hamilton ever desire you 
not to destroy it ?— Colonel Hamilton 
desired me to speak every tiling that I 
knew, and to shew every thing 1 iiud. 

Did he not expressly desire you to 
copy that paper, and not to destroy it ? 
—He desired me not to destroy any pa- 
per 1 had. 

Did he not expressly desire you not 
to destroy that paper .'—Certainly. 

Did he not do that more than once ?--- 
I am sure I do not know ; I have not 
more than once conversed with him. 

You had conversation with him at 
Portsmouth, had not yoii ?— Yes, but he 
did not know that I had this paper, for 
I hardly knew it myself 

Did not you tell him you had a paper 
which you might destroy if you pleased i 
—No. 

You are quite sure of that ? --Yt.". 
And that lie did not advise you upon 



2S6 



tli:\t occasion not to dcstro)' it ? — If Iliad 
liad any idea, I miglit luive destroyed it 
without tillinghim ; I told him, and he 
ndvisi d nu; not to destroy it. 

Where was this ? — At Portsmouth. 

Had he it at Portsmouth ? — 1 Iwid not 
the paper with me at Portsmouth ; I 
loldhimi thouglu there was a note in 
existence. 

Upon thai occasion he did advise you 
not to destroy it ? — He did advise me 
not to destroy it ; he said, do not you 
destroy a single thing. 

When was it that Colonel Hamilton 
took a copy of this paper ? — I believe it 
was the day after he came to town. 

Do you recollect where yon were 
when lie took this copy ? — It was at the 
coffee-house. 

At what coffee-house, in what part of 
the town?— I think, it is in Southampton- 
row. 

When Colonel Hamilton took this 
ropy, did he again remark to you, that 
Aou should keep tliispapcr, and not des- 
troy it ?"Hc desired me not to destroy it. 

Did lie at no second time desire vou 
not to destroy the pajier ? — CertuinU'. 

Did you sec Colonel Hamilton again 
in the course of the same day ? — I rath- 
er think I did. 

Where did you see him ? — I saw him 
at tlie British cofleo-house. 

What did Colonel Hamilton s.iy to 
you when you saw liim at tlie British 
coffee-house ? — It was upon regimental 
business I met him then. 

There was no reference at all to this 
subject ?— Nothing to this, I do not re- 
collect a word. 

Do not you recollect that he did upon 
th.1t occasion also desire yon not to de- 
stroy the note ?— No, I do not recollect 
tliat- 

Did he not give you some advice with 
respectto your conduct referable totliese 
charges ? — The same advice tliathe had 
given me before. 

Which was, tliat vou should not de- 
stroy the paper ?— To speak all 1 knew, 
and not destroy the paper ; but this was 
in the morning, not at the second time 
when I saw him at the British coffee- 
house ; we came into tlie street togeth- 
er, he went one way, and I another. 

Tlien nothing passed between Col. 
Hamilton and }ou upon the subject of 
these charges at thcBritish coffee "house? 
—I do not recollect tliat there was. 

Do not >-ou recollect ColonelHamilton 



advising you not to suffer yourself to 
be examined upon the subject before 
you came to the bar of the House ?— I 
believe not at that ])eriod ; he told me, 
when I was s])eaking to him in the morn- 
ing, you Inul bi tter be quiet upon Ui6 
subject, say nothing to any body upon 
the subject, but when you are called, 
speak what you know, and do not de- 
stroy the paper. 

Do vou not recollect, that at the Brit- 
ish coffee-house. Colonel Hamilton ad- 
vised you not to submit to examination, 
but to speak the trutli when you camo 
here ; and above all things, not 1o de- 
stroy that note i — Not at tlie British cof- 
fee-house. 

Did he, at any place subsequent to 
your meeting with him at the coffee- 
house in Southampton-row, in the course 
of that day ? — 1 do not think I have seen 
him more than three times since I have 
been in London, and he has been with 
his regiment at Croydon. 

You did see him a second time that 
morning ? — At the British coffee house. 

And upon the occasion of seeing him 
at that coffee-house, or your going from 
that colVee-house, did he not repeat this 
advice ? — I do not recollect that he did. 

Do you not recollect stating to Col. 
Hamilton that you would follow his ad- 
vice, but that he would be very angi-y 
with you, for that since he had seen you 
last you had destroyed that paper ? — 
Never such a conversation took place 
between us. 

Neither at that time or at any other I 
—No. 

You never stated to Colonel Hamilton 
tliat you had destroyed that paper .' — 
No. 

Did you tell Col. Hamilton that there 
was anotlier paper tliat yovi had shewn 
to Major Toiiyn, when the promotion 
was gazetted !— I had not anotlier letter, 
1 could not tell him tliat. 

It does not follow that because you 
had not it, you could not tell him you 
had had it ?— I never had it. 

Did you tell Inm you had had it ?— 
No. 

You did not tell him you had had it, 
and given it to Major Tonyn ? — No. 

When did you see this pa]ier last ? — I 
think it is about five or six days ago. 

■NVhei-e ? — In my own room. 

Have you seen it since you were ex- 
amined last ? — No. 

Are vou sure of that ?— Sure of it. 



287 



You stated, just now, you had seen it 
either the day before, or the duy after ? 
— That was the time I aaw it. 

Did any body else see it at that time ? 
— Not that I recollect. 

Have you shewn it to any body else 
besides Col. Hamilton since you have 
been in town ? — No. 

Where did you put it when you saw 
it last ?— Among some other papers 
which I had in my bureau. 
I You are quite confideni you have not 
got it now ?— I have mislaid it some- 
where. 

Did you carry it about with you in 
your pocket at any time ?-— Never. 

Was it with you when you were in 
Spain ?— No. 

How came it to be with you in the 
coffee-house in Southampton-row, ifyou 
never carried it about witli you .' — To 
shew Colonel Hamilton. 

Had you it with you when you were 
at the British coflce -house ?— No. 

Had you gone home between being- at 
the coffee-house in Southampton-row 
and coming to the British coHee-housc ? 
—Yes. 

Where do you live ?— In Lyon's Inn. 

You stated that Mrs. Clarke gave you 
the note in question ?— Yes. 

Did you read the note when she gave 
it to you ?-"I believe I did. 

Was it a sealed note or an open note ? 
—An open note. 

You stated that you had not the note 
with you abroad ; where did you lodge 
before you went abroad !-.-At Lyon's 
Inn. 

Did you leave your papers at Lyon's 
Inn ?— Certainly. 

The note you say was not a sealed 
note ; to whom was it directed ?---! do 
not recollect that it had any address. 

You surely must recollect when you 
read the note : did you read it when 
Mrs. Clarke delivered it to you !--It is 
so long ago I do not recollect ; it is five 
years ago nearly, and I cannot charge 
my memory whether I I'ead it or not. 

Were you not to receive some pecu- 
niary consideration from some person or 
other on the gazetting of Major Tonyn? 
Not a farthing. 

Why were you so anxious that Major 
Tonyn should wait a few days in hopes 
of his being gazetted ?— To oblige Mrs. 
Clarke, who wanted the money exceed- 
ingly. 

Were you confident that he would be 



gazetted in a few days, from the influ- 
ence of Mrs. Clarke !---No, I doubted 
her influence very much then. 

Can you, by any possibility, now pro- 
duce the note ?---It is not about me. 

Can you, by any possibility, now pro- 
duce the note .'— If 1 can possibly find it, 
I will produce it. 

Is it possible that you should find it .'-- 
I have searched every where, and I can- 
not find it. ' '" 

Is it possible that you should find it ?■-' 
I should hope that it is possible. 

What is the ground of that hope ?— 
Having put it among other papers in my 
bureau. 

Is it then In the bureau ?— That I do 
not know. j 

Has any body access ir that bureau' 
but yourself .'—Now and tlven my wife;'' 

Do you know that that note is now in 
the pos.session of your wife or any other 
person !— Not to the best of my knowl- 
edge. 

Have you given that note into th<? 
possession of any body to be kept l-^ 
No. _ "^ 

Have you given it into the pos.sesBion' 
of any j)crson ,to be handed to another 
person to be kept ?"-No. 

Is it or is it not destroyed ?-"Not, to 
the best of my knowledge. 

Have you given it to any person to be 
destroyed ? — Never, to the best of my 
knowledge ; I have not destroyed it. 

Do 30U know that it is destroyed ? — ' 
I am pretty clear that it is not destroyed. 

Ifyou arc pretty cl«;ar that it is not. 
destroyed, where did you put it wiien 
you last saw it .' — Amoljg some papers 
in my bureau. 

Have you the key of that bureau 
now about you ? — No, I believe my 
wife has it. 

What makes you so clear that it is not 
destroyed ? — Becau.se I never desired it 
should be destroyed. 

When you say you never desired it 
should be destroyed, that answer has 
reference to some other person lo whom 
that desire must have been expressed, if 
you have desired it ; whom do you mean 
when you refer to some other person, to 
whom such desire must have been ex- 
pressed ? — 1 know of no other person in 
the business. 

Then what do you mean by saying 
you never desired it should be destroy- 
ed ? — I was asked if I had desired it 
should be destroyed, and I said no. 



288 



You were asked whether it were de- 
stroyed ; -And I said not by my de- 
tire. 

You neither destroyed it yourself, nor 
desired any other person to destroy it ? 
—No. 

Then it is in existence ?--I should 
hope it is. 

You say that you put this paper into a 
bureau with otherpapers, s^hcn did you 
do that ?— I believe it was at the time, 
of course the last time I saw it, which 
miglit be five or six days ago. 

How long was it before you were exam- 
ined here before ?— I do not recollect. 

In what room in your house is this 
bureau, in which you say you put it ? — 
It is in my sitting-room ; I have but one 
sitting-room. 

Have you searched that bureau for it 
since ?-"I have looked for it, but could 
not find it. 

Have you examined the papers in that 
bureau, to see whether it is among 
them ?--I have a variety of papers, it 
may be among them ; I have searched, 
but could not find it. 

Do you mean to say you have search- 
ed in that bureau for it ?---Yes. 

You have said that you saw this pa- 
per six days ago, was that the same pa- 
per which was given you by Mrs. Claikc ? 
--I tliink it was. 

Are you sure that it was ?— I am very 
certain that it was. 

Did you read it six days ago ?— No. 

If you did not read it six days ago, 
how are you sure it was the same paper 
you received from Mrs. Clarke ?---It is 
a remarkable piece of paper, andl could 
not forget it. 

What was there remarkable in the pa- 
per but the writing on it ?---Dirty. 

You have said that you saw the paper 
six days ago, and that you looked for it 
two days ago ; wliere did you look for 
it two days ago ?-"Where I had suppos- 
ed 1 had put it, in tlie bureau. 

You said that you left it six days ago 
with other papers in a bureau ; when 
you looked two days ago, were the otlier 
papers there ?— 1 think they are. 

And this paper was the only one then 
missing ?— It appeared so to me. 

Who had the key of your bureaVi, be- 
tween this six days ago and the two days 
ago?-"Sometimesmyself,sometimes my 
wife, sometimes it is left in the bureau. 

Do you think that if a messenger was 
sent with you now to your rooms, you 



could find the papers ?— I i-eally do not 
know. 

Wliat do you believe ? I really can- 
not tell ; I looked two or three times for 
it, andl could not find it two days ago ; 
it is mislaid in some place or other. 

What reason had you, in the begin- 
ning of your evidence this night, for say- 
ing you did not believe such a paper had 
ever existed ? — It was a very unpleasant 
circumstance, and I would have wished 
to have forgotten it. 

What circumstance do you mean was 
unpleasant ? — The whole of the business 
I thought unpleasant. 

Why did you, having come to the bar 
of this House to disclose every thing ^ 
else 3'o\i knew upon the subject, think' 
this circumstance particularly unpleas- 
ant ? — I did not think this circumstance 
particularly, but the whole of it, as I 
mentioned before, unpleasant. 

When you shewed this note to Colonel 
Hamilton, and betook a copy of it, did 
you at this time read it ? — No, I did not. 

When you first mentioned the note to 
Colonel Hamilton, how did you describe 
it ? — Speaking of the promotion of Ma- 
jor Tonyn, I said there was a note in my 
possession that mentioned something 
about his promotion. 

By whom did you state that note to 
have been written ? — I caimot take upon 
me to say. 

Can you take upon yourself to say you 
did not state it to have been written by 
the Duke of York ? — I never saw the 
Duke of York's hand-writing, and there- 
fore I could not. 

Can you take \ipon yourself to say you 
did' not state it to have been written by 
tlie Duke of York ? — I certainly could 
not. 

Did you ? — No, I did not. 

Did "you state it to have been written 
in the name of the Duke of York ?— 
No. 

In whose name did yon state it to have 
been written ? — I stated no name. 

As you permitted Colonel Hamilton 
to take a copy of this note, did you your- 
self take a copy of it '—No, having the 
originiU, there was no occasion. 

Did you think this a note of any im- 
portance ? — No, I did not. 

Was the copy Cftlonel Hamilton took 
of the note a correct copy I — 1 do not 
kno w. 

Did you read the copy which Colonel 
Hamilton took. 



289 



Was there any signature to the note ? 
—To the best of' my recollection, none. 

Did you know whose hand-writing it 
was ? — No. 

Do you know Mrs. Clarke's hand- 
writing ? — Sometimes. 

Was it in lier liand-writing .' — I really 
cannot take upon me to say. 

Did you ever see her write ? — Re- 
peatedly. 

Does Mrs. Clarke write in different 
hand-writings, or always in her own ? — 
I have repeatedly had notes from Mrs. 
Clai'ke, which have been written so dif- 
ferently, that I could not have supposed 
them to be the same person's writing. 

Have you either before or after you 
communicated this noteto ColonelHam- 
ilton, had any conversation or commu- 
nication with any person whatever re- 
specting that note J— Not to the best of 
my recollection. 

Was any person present, six days ago, 
and two days ago, when you were search- 
ing for this note ? — No. 

You are sure there was no person in 
the room at the time ? — No, except my 
wife, slie migiit be in the room. 

Had your wife and you any conversa- 
tion upon this subject ! — Of course, a 
great deal, which we have every day. 

Did slie ever state to you she had de- 
stroyed the note ? — Never. 

Did she ever state to you that she had 
delivered it to any other person ? — Never. 

Did you ever desire her to take it out 
of the bureau ! — Never. 

How was the copy taken ? — Colonel 
Hamilton copied it. 

Was it compared with the original 
after it was copied ? — Not that I know 
of. 

Where did you put it after it was cop- 
ied ? — Into my pocket-book. 

Witi» other papers, or singly ?— Singly. 

Did you go home from the coffee- 
house ? — Immediately. 

How did you deposit it in the bureau ? 
—By putting it into the bureau. 

Did you put it in a bundle with any 
other papers ? — Not that I recollect. 

Endeavour to answer positivelytocjucs- 
tions within your own knowledge ? — I 
cannot recollect whether I did oi* not. 

Have you searched all your bundles 
of papers as well as your loose papers I 
— Generally speaking I tiiink I have. 

How can you underluke to say, it is 
not in your bureau, if you have not 
searched all your papers ; — I tliiuk I 
have searched all my papess. 



When you met Colonel Hamilton at 
the British Coil'ee-house, you say you 
did not tell him it was destroyed i — 
Certainly not. 

Did you say any thing to him about 
the note ? — I had no conversation with 
him upon the subject. 

Then you did not say to him, that 
" they had forgot the note I" — No,"they 
forgot it." 

Any such words as that ? — No. 

What is it makes this particular cir- 
cumstance of the note so unpleasant to 
you ? — It is no further unpleasant than 
my losing the note ; if I could find it I 
should produce it with the greatest plea- 
sure. 

Did not you say, that the reason for 
your not admitting that you knew of 
this note, at the beginning of this exam- 
ination, was, that it was an unpleasant 
circumstance that you wished to forget ? 
— The whole of the business I conceive 
to be unpleasant, and I was very sorry 
that Iliad any thing to do with it. 

What is there particularly unpleasant 
in the circumstance of this note .'—My 
having lost it or mislaid it. 

How can the circumstance of your 
liaving lost it, induce you to deny your 
over having had it ?— From the reason 
that it was unpleasant throughout the 
whole. 

What is the unpleasantness you con- 
ceive in confessing you have lost it, if 
it be true ? — I should be very sorry that 
I had lost it, and I hope I shall find it. 

What is the unpleasantness you con- 
ceive in confessing you have lost it, if 
it be true ? — That is the unpleasant part, 
that I have lost it. 

What is the unpleasant part I — that I 
have lost it. 

How can the circumstance of your 
having lost it, induce you to deny your 
ever having had it ! — From the reason 
that it was unpleasant throughout the 
whole. 

Did you deny at the first part of your 
examination, that you had such a note ? 
— I conceived that I had not the note. 

Were you asked, whether you had not 
the note now, or whether such a note 
had ever been in existence ? — I was ask- 
ed, in the first instance, whether the note 
was in existence, or whether a note was 
in existence, and 1 believe I doubted it ; 
since which I have recollected it. 

I^The witness was directed to with- 
draw, 
fit was moved and seconded, that 



290 



Captain Huxley Sandon, in his 
examination before this Commit- 
tee, has been guilty of gross pre- 
varication ; which being put, was 
carried nnn. con. 
[TheChairman was tlien directed to 
report this circumstance to the 
House, and ask leave to sit again. 
The Serjeant at Arms having taken 
Captain Huxley Sandon into cus- 
tody, by order of the House, a 
request from him was commu- 
nicated to the House, that he 
might be brought to the bar ; 
■which being done, he addressed 
the House as follows : 
1 most humbly hope, that this honour- 
able House will do me the honour of ex- 
cusing my pi'evarication ; and I beg to 
assure them it is not from a bad heart, 
but a confused head- I am exceedingly 
sorry I have done any thing to displease 
this honourable House. I am come here 
to ofier every thing in atonement I pos- 
sibly can, and I hope the House will do 
me the honour to hear me. 

Mr. Speaker. If tlie prisoner has more 
to offer to the House, this is his time. 

Capt. Sandon. With regard to the 
evidence .' — Is it to the evidence I am to 



Mr. Speaker. You will offer to the 
House whatever you think becomes your 
case and situation. 

Capt. Sandon. I beg pardon of the 
House for my prevarication, and I beg 
that tlie House will do me the honour 
to excuse my extraordinary behaviour ; 
and will be assured, tliat all I have, and 
all I kno%» now I certainly will relate. 
VTith regard to the note in question, it is 
not destroyed ; I have it in my posses- 
sion at my chambers ; if it is required I 
can f^o and fetch it ; I think I can put 
my hands upon it ; the note that you 
were speaking of, was given me to shew 
Major Tonyn, and to say that his pro- 
motion would not go on unless he paid 
the money. I took tlie note and produ- 
ced it to Major Tonyn, with that mes- 
sage. I shewed him the note, with what 
I mentioned before, desiring him to wait 
three or four days. I believe he said 
what I related to this honourable House 
before, that he would, in consequence 
of tliisnote whichlshewedhim. I brought 
back the note, and have it now in my 
possession. He was gazetted, and the 
500/. was paid to Mrs. Clarke, and the 
25/. to Mr. Donovan. If this honour- 



able House would ■wish to see the note, 
I will go and fetch it. As to who wrote 
the note, I cannot take it upon me to say : 
Mrs. Clarke told me it was written by 
the Duke of York. 

Mr. Speaker. Does the prisoner de - 
sire to add more. 

Capt. Sandon. I have nothing m(MPe'.i 
to say relative to that ; I only humbly || 
hope the House will do me the honourvf ' 
of excusing me the prevarication I made 
use of. ' 

[The prisoner was then taken from 
the bar ; and the House deter- 
mined tliat he should be sent in 
custody to his chambers to ietch 
the papers; and that he should be 
brought before tlie Committee of 
tlie whole House whenever tliey 
should see fit. 
[After some time the Committee 
was resumed."] 

Mrs. MARY ANN CLARKE was call- 
ed in, and examined by the Commit- 
tee, as follows : 

Do you recollect what passed between 
you and Captain Sandon in consequence 
of any application from Major Tonyn, 
expressing his Impatience at the lengtli 
of time that elapsed before he procured 
his appointment ? — No ; I really do not 
know, although I have been reading 
Captain Sandon's evidence just now in 
tlie room 1 have been in. 

Do you mean tlie evidence he gave on 
a former day when he was examined ?— 
Yes. 

In the 5th number of the Minutes ? — 
I believe it is one of the last that has 
been printed. 

You do not recollect Captain Sandon's 
coming to you at all upon the subject ?-- 
I recollect that Captain Sandon was em- 
ployed by Major Tonyn ; I am confident 
as to tliat. 

Do you recollect Captain Sandon's at 
any time acquainting you with Major 
Tonyn's impatience upon the subject ?— 
No, I do not, although I have been i-ead- 
ing about it. 

You do not remember any represcn - 
tation having been made to you by Cap- 
tain Sandon, that Major Tonyn intended 
to withdraw the deposit he had made, in 
consequence of delay ? — No, I do not 
recollect it ; though he might have, per- 
haps, mentioned it. 

Do you recollect having sent any mes- 
sage to Major Tonyn by Captain San- 



291 



Uon ? — I cannot recollect that I did ; per- 
haps it is likely, but it is a long while 
since. 

Do you recollect having- sent any pa- 
per to Major Tonyn by Captain Sandon ? 
, — What sort of paper ? 
^ Any paper ? — I could speak more pos- 
itively if it was mentioned what sort of 
papej'. 

Any written paper ?— Of my own wri- 
ting', or any other person's ? 

Any written paper ?— I do not recol- 
lect ; I was always very cautious of giv- 
ing any written paper out of my hands. 

As far as you recollect, you have not 
sent any written paper to MajorTonyn I 
—I do not tliink I did, but I cannot 
speak positively. 

As you were so cautious in putting any 
paper out of your hands, would you not 
have recollected that circumstance if it 
had occurred ?— If he meant to insinuate 
that there was any writing of the Duke 
of York's, I never did in my life to any 
one. 

You are quite sure you never commit- 
ted any paper to Captain Sandon, whicli 
you represented as the writing of the 
Duke of York ?— I am quite certain, 
not to any one whatever, except lately, 
and once to Mr. Manners a few notes. 

If you hud sent such a paper by Cap- 
tain Sandon to Major Tonyn, is it possi- 

ble that you could have forgotten it ? 

No, I should not liave forgotten any 
thing of that sort belonging to the Duke 
of York. 

Are you acquainted with Mrs. Hoven- 
den ? — I was. 

Do you recollect at any time having 
received a note from the Duke of York 
upon the subject of MajorTonyn ?— No, 
I do not ; tliere was no occasion for any 
notes to pass, because I was in the habit 
of seeing his Royal Highness every day, 
except he was in the country, and that 
happened perhaps only for a week or ten 
days in one year. 

Did you ever hear Captain Sandon 
say, that he had shewn a note to Major 
Tonyn, which purported to be a note of 
ius Royal Highness the Duke of York ? 
— No. 

You are not aware of any note, pur- 
portmg to be a note of the Duke of York, 
being shewn to Major Tonyn by Capt. 
Sandon ?— -No, I am quite clear nothing 
of that sort was ever mentioned to me 
before. 

Do you mean to state, that vou did 
not give any notQ to Captain 'Sandon 



wliich might appear to be a note of the 
Duke of York ?— No. 

You stated that you sent .some notes 
to Mr. Manners ; do you mean to state 
that those were in the hand-writing of 
tlie Duke of York ?— Certainly I do. 

Did you or did you not send any note 
to Captain Sandon ? — I never recollect 
sending him any note, but more especial- 
ly any note of the Duke of York's, be- 
cause I should have been afraid of en- 
trusting it to him. 

[The following Questions and An- 
swers were read : " Q. As you. 
were so cautious in putting any 
paper out of your hands, would 
you not have recollected that cir- 
cumstance if it had occurred ? — 
A. If he meant to insinuate that 
there was any writing of the Duke 
of York's, I never did in my life 
to any one. Q; You are quite 
sure you never committed any pa- 
per to Captain Sandon, which you 
represented as the wi-iting of the 
Duke of York ?— A. I am quite 
certain not to any one whatever, 
except lately, and once to Mr. 
Manners a few notes." 
How does it occur to you to think that 
Captain Sandon might have insinuated 
any such thing ? — Because I think he 
mighthave insinuated any thing; I think 
he is very equal to it. 

If Captain Sandon has presented any 
note to Major Tonyn, purporting to be 
a note written by the Duke of York, 
and given to him by you, is it true ? — I 
do not think it is, and I am almost sure 
it is not ; perhaps he has written one 
himself. 

During the negotiation with Major 
Tonyn for the Majority, was any repre- 
sentation made to you by Captain San- 
dou, that MajorTonyn was tired of wait- 
ing, and threatened to withdraw the 
money he had deposited ? — I do not re- 
collect it. 

Did you ever express to Capt. Sandon 
a wish on your part that Major Tonyn 
would not be impatient, because you 
wanted the money which you were to 
receive upon his success ? — No, that 
would be the very reason 1 should wish 
him to be impatient. 

In the last interview you had with 
Captain Sandon upon the subject of Ma- 
jor Tonyn, did he write .any thing in 
your presence ?— Itis impossible forme 
to saj', it is so long since. 

Do you recollect Captain Sandon 



292 



having read aiiy thing to you in that in- 
terview ? — No, I do not. 

Do you recollect a paper being pro- 
duced before you by Capt. Sandon at 
that interview ?— I do not. 

Did vou ever express, here or any 
■where else, that Major Tonyn was a 
shabby fellow for his impatience in wish- 
ing to withdraw his note ?— No.I thought 
him a perfect gentleman when Mr. Don- 
ovan introduced him lo me, and wished 
him to be made a Lieuteii:mt-Colonel 
previous to his going to America ; I 
lancy he is in America now. 

Had Captain Sandon any and what 
interest in the succcssof this negotiation 
respecting Major Tonyn ? — Yes ; 1 be- 
lieve lie eil'ected it with me ; thei-e was 
no promotion in the 48lh regiment ; tiie 
Duke of York had slopped it, I think, 
for two years, and the captain was very 
eager to get out of it on that account. 

Was Captain Sandon to have any per 
centage or proportion of the profit arising 
from the success of the negotiation, and 
payment to be made upon Major Tonyn's 
success in his application for promotion ■ 
— I believe that he was, for I have under- 
stood from a great many persons, that 
Major Tonyn was a very generous sort 
of a man, and Captain Sandon would 
not have interested himself so much as 
he did for him without some reward. 

Did you ever understand from Cap- 
tain Sandon himself that he expected 
any such advantage ? — Yes, 1 did, and 
from every one that he mentioned to 
me. 

Before you came to the bar of this 
House, had you any information of the 
substance of the examination of Captain 
Sandon before the Committee to night ? 
— Not the least. 

[|The following question and answer 
were read " Q. As you were 
so cautious in putting any paper 
out of your hands, would you 
not have recollected tliat circum- 
stance if it had occurred ?- A. 
If he meant to insinuate that there 
was any writing of the Duke of 
York's, I never did in my life to 
any one."] 
Why did you suppose that the person 
proposing that question meant to refer 
to any writing of the Duke of York ' — 
From what one of the gentlemen said to 
me. 

Do you mean any question which has 
been put to you since you came to the 
bar ? — Certainly. 



Which question ? — Tlie questions frot 
the Chancellor of the Exchequer. 

Did you give Captain Sandon any 
part of the prc^fit you were to receive 
from the promotion of Major Tonyn ?--jl, 
I do not recollect that 1 did, butheuseOT| 
to give himself, I believe, from ColonelA 
French's money. H 

You did not give him any yoiu-self!— 
I do not recollect that I did. 

You have said that you understood 
from Captain Sandon, that he was to de- 
rive some profit from the promotion of 
Major Tonyn ; state what Captain San- 
don said to vou upim that subject. On- 
ly that mv 500/. would be clear, and that 
where he had his from would be from 
the other party, what emolument he was 
to get by it. 

Mr- HEID being called in — 
Mrs. Clarke. Is there any precedent 
may I ask, for having two witnesses at 
the bar of this House at one time. 

Chairman. I apprehend the Com- 
mittee will call to the bar what witness- 
es they please. 

Mr. JOHN REID was called in, and 

examined by the Committee, as fol- 
lows : 

Do vou know the witness at the bar ? 
—Yes,' I do. 

Did she ever come to your house 
under the name of Mrs. Dowler ? — By 
no other name. 

Is the witness at the bar the person 
whom you represented as h-aving been 
frequently at your house witli Mr. 
Dowler ? — Yes. 

Mrs. Clarke- Before Mr. Reid leaves 
the place, I beg leave to say, that I 
never said I was Mrs. Dowler ; he might 
put what construction he thought proper 
upon it ; it was very proper that he did, 
perhaps. 

{To Mr. Petd.) Did she ever answer 
to the name of Mrs. Dowler in your pre- 
sence ?— To my servants, I have no 
doubt that was her answer ; upon all 
occasions whenever I spoke to her, I 
always, I suppose, said " Ma'am, but 
if I mentioned any name, it was Mrs. 
Dowler. 

Did you ever hear her addressed as 
Mrs. Dowler in your presence ?— Yes, 
I have. 

Did she answer to that address ?— 
Yes. 

Did j'ou ever hear her answer to the 
name of Clarke ?— I never heard her 



293 



called by any other name but that of 
Mrs Dowler ; I never lieard her called 
by the name of Clai'ke. 

Did you believe her name to be Dow- 
ler ? — I had not a doubt of it. 

And you believed her to be marrie^ 
to Mr. Dowler ? — I had not any doubt 
•f that. 

Did nothing ever occur to induce you 
to entertain a doubt of that ? — Never. 

You always believed the witness at 
the bar to be Mrs. Dowler, and the wife 
of Mr. Dowler? — Yes, I mentioned that 
before, and I mentioned a very particu- 
lar circumstance why I thought so. 

Have you ever heard Mrs. Clarke sav^ 
that her name was Dowler ? — I nevejr 
heard her mention her name at all. 

Would you not have been afraid of the 
credit of your house if you had called 
her by any other name ? — Good God ! I 
should not have thought of any tiling of 
the kind. 

Did any letters ever come to Mrs. 
Clarke by any name whatsoever, while 
she was at your house ? — Not to my 
knowledge ; they never came under my 
inspection, they came to the bar. 

By whom did you ever hear her called 
Mrs Dowler ? — By all those that spoke 
to her there ; when they came to my 
house, if they asked for her at all, they 
asked for Mrs. Dowler. 

Did Mr. Dowler ever call her Mrs. 
Dowler in your presence ? — Upon my 
word I could not take upon me to swear 
it, but I always understood it to be so, 
and I never had any doubt about it. 

By whom did you understand it to be 
so ? — By Mr. Dowler himself calling her 
Mrs. Dowler. 

Did Mr. Dowler and that lady always 
come there together ? — No. 

Did Mr. Dowler lodge there at any 
time ? — Yes. 

And that lady came occasionally ? — 
Yes. 

Mrs. Clarke. — That was when the bai- 
liffs were after me. 

CTo Mr.Reid.J Were there many in- 
quiries made at your house in the name 
of Mrs. Dowler ? — I seldom answer any 
inquiries at all, I leave my wifeAodoit ; 
and it is the business of the bar-maid. 

[|Mr. Reid was directed to withdraw. 

Mrs. Clarke. — May I speak a word ; 
I merely wish to ask a question of some 
of the Cix)wn lawyers. 

[The Chairman informed the witness 
that could not be permitted. 



CTo Mrs. Clarke. J Do y«u know 
Mrs. Hoveiiden ? — Yes, I do. 

Was it at the period of time when she 
was under the protection of Mr. Dow- 
ler, brother to the Mr. Dowli-r who has 
been examined at the bar ? — He has no 
brother. 

Were you in the habits of visiting the 
Taylor family when they lived at Bays- 
water ? — Yes. 

Do you know Mrs. Taylor very well 
—Yes. 

Do you know Mr. Taylor ? — Yes. 

Did you know there was a Mr. Tay- 
lor ? — Yes, Miss Taylor's father. 

Did you ever see Mrs. Taylor write I 
— No, I cannot say that 1 did. 

You never have been in the habits of 
corresponding with her ? — No only with 
Miss Taylor, and Mr. Dowler does not 
know Mrs. Hovenden. 

Do you know a Mr Chance, a stock- 
broker ? — No, I do not. 

Do not you know that the Mr Taylor 
you speak of was Mr. Ciuince ? — No, I 
know he is not ; I know he is Mr. 
Taylor. 

Do you recollect a circumstance about 
two or three years ago, of the Miss 
Tajlor who was examined at tliis 
bar, being about to be married to a Mr. 
Knowles ?— No, I do not ; I know there 
was a young man paid his addresses to 
her, I believe a physician, but I do not 
know that there was any marriage in- 
tended ; 1 fancied she had not liked 
him. 

Do you not know that did not go on, 
on accotmt of her name not being Tay- 
lor ?---No,I do not; for 1 know her name 
is Ta-lor, and she has five brothers in 
his Majesty's service, who bear the 
same name ; three in the army, and two 
in the navy. 

Do you know the age of Miss Taylor ? 
—No. 

Do you suppose her more than five or 
six and twenty ? -I cannot tell any thing 
about her age. 

Do you know that Mrs. Taylor is a 
widow, and not a married woman ?.— 
No, I do not ; because I know her hus- 
band. 

Did you keep a man conk at the time 
you lived in Gloucester-place ?--Yes. 

Did you keep more than one ? -The 
man generally used to bring iiis assistant 
with him ; it is a regular thing, that 
wlien jou have a man-cook, that an »s- 
^s;,stant comes with him. 



38 



294 



You did not keep a man-cook by the 
year ? — No, they staid averysliort time 
with me, any one ; His Royal Highness 
is very difficult. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

GWYLLIM LLOYD WARDLE, 
Esq. was examined in his place, as 

follows : 

H:ae you placed upon the table of 
this Committee all the correspondence 
you liave had with Mrs. Clarke, relative 
to the accusations you have brought for- 
ward ' — No, certainly not. 

Have you any objection so to do ? — 
Yes, most assuredly, I have a very great 
pbjection. 

Have you any objection to lay upon 
the tabic all those letteis which you took 
fi-om Mrs. Clarke ? — Those letters are 
already all laid upon the table ; and 1 do 
assure the honourable gentlemen, I do 
jiot know thuv I have a letter of Mrs. 
Clarke's at this moment by me. 

Mrs. ALICE CORRI was called it), 

and examined b}^ the Committee, as 

follows : 

Are you married to Mr. Corri the inu,- 
sic-masler ? — Yes. 

How long have you been married ? — 
As near as 1 can recollect, five years next 
Anril. 

Do you know Mrs. Clarke ? — Yes. 

Do you recollect a conversation that 
passed between Mrs. Clarke and your 
Jmsband, yourself being present, with re- 
gard to certain papers whichMrs. Clarke 
expressed great anxiety to have burnt ? 
— Very little. 

Relate what passed upon that occasion, 
as far as 30U recollect. — I recollect Mrs. 
Clarke telling Mr Corri, she was jvist 
going to him ; that he came very apro- 
pos ; for that there had been something 
satirically inserted in the newspapers, 
.something relative to a female clerk ; I 
cannot rccollectthe whole of it.not think- 
ing that I should be called here ; and she 
begged, if there \yere any letters, Mr. 
Corri woidd immediately burn them. 

Were you employed in burning them ? 
— Yes ; Mr. Corri gave them to me 

Did you actually destroy them all ? — 
J^^ot tlien ; 1 did not destroy anyof them 
at the Time ; I laid them in a box, and 
never thought of them till just before this 
proceeding began ; 1 think last Saturday 
fortnight or tiu'ce weeks, Mr. Anthony 
porri, son of Mr. Corri, brought a news- 
paper to us, stating thathis father would 



be called to the House of Commons ; it 
immediately then came to my mind, that 
I had those letters by me, and he advised 
me to burn them ; and he said, I had bet- 
ter not say any thing either to his father 
of any body else, but to burn them 5 
which I did two days afterwards. 

W hat motive did Mrs. Clarke assign 
for wishing to have those letters de- 
stroyed ?- I really do not know ; I can- 
not say ; I do not recollect it. 

Did she not express a fear with respect 
to the Dnke of York ? — I have some- 
thing faint on my memory, but I could 
not say it positively ; for the conversa- 
tion was directed to Mr. Corri, and I 
r^v*erheard a word or two ; I never 
thought of being called here, and there- 
fore did not pay particular attention to 
it i I have a very faint idea, but cannot 
recollect exactly. 

Did any thing pass as tothe apprehen- 
sion of the Duke's anger ? — I have some 
recollection, but I cannot positively say; 
it was something of the kind. 

Did you ever peruse the letters that 
were in your possession ? — I looked them 
slightly over before I burnt them. 

Are 3'ou sufficiently acquainted with 
the contents of the letters to speak posi- 
tively as to the subject ? — I cannot recol- 
lect one word that was in them, for I 
was in a very great hurry, and very much 
afraid lest Mr. Corri should know that I 
had disobeyed his command in not burn- 
ing the letters sooner ; and I hurntthem 
as quick as possible. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

Captain HUXLEY SANDON, being 
brought in, in the custody of the Ser- 
jeant at Arms, was examined by the 
Committee, as follows : 
Have you found the paper ? — I have. 
Have you got it with you ? — The mes- 
senger lias it, and every other paper tliat 
I had that was connected w ith it. 

GEORGE WHITTAM, Esq. was exa- 
mined by the Committee, as fbllovs : 
Where did}ou find this paper ?- -I 
found this letter in Captain Sandon's bu- 
reau ; this is the letter, I understand, I 
was sent in search of particularly. 

Have you any other paper ?---Tl)ere 
were two other letters of Mrs. Choke's 
in the bureau, which Capt. Sandon put 
into my hands. 

Any other letters any where else ?--- 
Here is a bundle of letters of Mrs. 
Clarke's principally ; tliey were in this 



295 



brown paper, and in Captain Sandon's 
bcd-rooni ; they wcie taken out of the 
paper, and 1 sealed ihcm up. 
[Mr.Whittuni was directed to withdraw. 
fTo Cciptuin Saiidon.J Look at that 
paper, and .sec whether it isthe paj)cr you 
shewed to Major Tonyn.---l think it is 
Is lliat the paper you received from 
Mrs. Clarke .'--Yes, it is. 

You received it from her own hands I 
—Yes, she gave it me. 

Was any one preseiit at the time ?•--! 
believe not. 

[Tilt note was read.] 
" I h •vc just received your note, and 
Tonyn's business shall remain aS it is — 
God bkss you." 
Addressed, 
** George Farquhar, Esq." 

Did not Colonel Hamilton give you 
the advice which he had given you be- 
fore, either at the British coftee houst. , 
or in the street near the British cofiee- 
house, on your meeting on tiit Satur- 
day ?— 1 do not recollect that he men- 
tioned any thing in the street ; in the 
coftee-house he could not, for there were 
others in the same box ; he said, will 
you come out, and we went out. 

Did he not, when you went out ? — We 
went out together. 

In the street did he not say something 
to you upon the subject ? — I do not re- 
collect it. 

Did he not desire you not to destroy 
the papers, and did you not say that he 
would be very angry with you, for that 
you had destroyed it ? — Never to my 
recollection. 

What are the other papers which you 
have given in ? — They are letters from 
Mrs. Clarke to me. 

Are they on the subject of Major 
Tonyn's business ? — Not precisely upon 
Major Tonyn's business ; upon the levy, 
and Major Tonyn's business. 

What is the reason you denied having 
possession of this letter ? — I can urge 
nothing upon my behalf ; and I hope this 
honourable House will do me the favour 
%o excuse it. 

Were you directed by any person to 
do so ? — No. 

What motive liad you for so doing ? — 
I had no motive whatever ; lam ashamed 
©f myself for my conduct ; 1 could have 
none. 

When you delivered that letter to Ma- 
jor Tonjn, did yoii deliver it open or 
healed ? — It was o])en. 



You have stated that you considered 
this 10 be a paper of no importance ; if 
you considered it to be a paper of no im- 
portance, i.ssign any possible motive jou 
could have for taking so nuich pains to 
conceal its existence .'---l can urge no- 
thmg. 

You must perceive there is a great 
deal of difierence between being able to 
urge an excuse, and being able to assign 
a reason ; you are nut dcsii ed to give an 
excuse, but to assign any probable rea- 
son, because it appears that some re;»son 
you must have had.---l can urge no rea- 
son wliatever for it. 

Were not you conscious that you 
were telling a ialsehoon ? 1 tiave already 
acknowledged that I am ashamed of 
what I have done. 

Then do you expect the Committee 
to believe that you came hitJierana told 
afaisehood deliberately , which you knew 
to be such at. the time, without having 
any motive for so doing ?--l liad no mo- 
tive whatever for doing so, but 1 again 
beg tlie House to do me tiie tavoui to ex- 
cuse me for telling tlum that falsehood. 
When Mrs. Clarke gave you that let- 
ter, did she tell }ou it was written by his 
Royal Highness the buke of York ?— 
1 do not exactly recollect whetlier she 
said it was written by him, but she said 
it came fron. him. 

Do you know the hand-writing of the 
Duke of York ? — I never saw it in my 
life, to my recollection. 

Pid Mrs. Cluike at any time express 
any auAiety to recover the lettei she had 
imrusied toyou ? — No, she never nien- 
tioncd it, and I never beaid any thing 
more about it. 

Are you acquainted with the hand- 
writing of Mrs. Clarke ? — Yes. 

Does it appear to you that the note in 
question is the liand-writing of Mrs. 
Clarke ?— No, it does not. 

Have you had any communication with 
any other person on the subject of the 
production or non-production of that 
letter in this place ? — None. 

Who is George Farquhar, Esq. to 
whom the letter is directed ?---! really 
have no knowledge who he is. 

You stated before, that Mrs. Clark© 
was used to write in difierent hands, do 
you now assert that ?— In the letterstlint 
are there you wilHind a vast variation in 
the hand. 

Did you ever see Mrs. Claike write ^. 
-*-Kepeatedly. 



296 



Should you know her hand-writing' if 
you saw it ? • Yes, Itliink I should. 

Do )on or do you not know wlio wrote 
that letter ?— No, I really do not. 

In the cotu'se of your long- acquaint- 
ance witli Mrs. Clarke, and your com- 
munication with her upon business, did 
she ever, upon any other occasion, com- 
miuiicate to you a note from the Duke of 
York ? — Never. 

She never communicated a note from 
the Duke of York on any business but 
this ? — Never. 

Can you recollect what she said upon 
communicating- tins note ; whether it 
was communicated with any cutition to 
take care of it, or not to communicate 
it to otliers ? No. I cannot recollect 
any thing- of the circumstance. 

Did Mrs. Clarke,or any other person, 
ever desire you to destroy tiie letter in 
question ? —Never. 

You b.ave stated that you h.'ive seen 
Mi s.Clurke write ditt'erenthandsididyou 
ever see her write dill'erent hands? -No. 
Tl e wiiat did yott moan to say she 
writes m various hands ? -In the letters 
addiessed to me, wiiich are now before 
the house, there is a variety in the 
hands. 

[The witness was taken from the bar. 

Mrs MARY ANN CLARKE was call- 
ed in ; and the note delivered in by 
the last witness being shewn to her 
she was examined by the Committee 
as follows : 

Do you recollect ever seemg that pa- 
per before ? - 1 suppose 1 must have set-n 
it before, for it is his Royal riiijhness* 
•writing. 

Wliat reason have you to suppose you 
have seen it before ? —1 do not know how 
it could have got into that man's posses- 
sion unless 1 gave it lO him, and it was 
a direction I used very often to get from 
his Royal Highness, "George Farquhar, 
Esq" 

Do you now recollect having given to 
Captain Sandon a letter upon this sub- 
ject ? — No, 1 do noti nor do I recollect 
g-iving him that ; but I think I must 
have given it to him, becau.se it must 
have been in my possession first. 

Do you always write the same kind of 
hand ? — I cannot exactly say how I 
write, I generally write in a.great hun-y, 

[_ T%DO bills being shevy/i to the witness. 3 
—Those are the two bills for which 
Captain Thompson was arrested the 
other day. 



Are they both your hand-writing ?— 
Yes guiding my m:)ther's hand ; they 
were both before the court martial. 

Were they both guiding your moth- 
er's hand ? — If you will read the min- 
utes of the court-martial, you will see. 

Were they both guiding your moth- 
er's luand ? — Yes, I think they were. 

Did your mother hold the pen and you 
guide her hand, when \ou wrote both 
these ! — It was the general way in wliich 
I had done with her for these four years. 

Did you in point of fact,.on that occa- 
sion, guide your mother's hand when 
she held the pen ? — Yes, I did. 

.A-nd in both of them ? — Yes, Ibelievft 
I did ;' It has quite her sanction. 

I do not ask wiiether you had the au- 
thority of your mother to draw these 
bills in your mother's name, but wlu-ther 
you can now recollect that your mother 
held the pen, while you guided her hand 
in writing both those drafts ? — What'tl 
would be the insinuation if she did not f 

You must answer the question. — Then 
I must answer to the best of my recol- 
lection : my mother was in the room at 
each time, .ind Mr. Manners ; you think 
perhaps, there is a difference in the 
hand-writing. 

You luust answer the question. — I anJ 
not quite positive, but I dare say I did, 
for I knew she was privy to both, and wa» 
in the room when both were done ; but 
there was something- irregular on the 
back about the endorsement ; perhaps 
you wish to make it appear a forgery. 

I do not aim at any such object, but 
wish to know whether you can take upon 
yourself to state that those bills were both 
written with your mother's hmd, you 
guiding it ? — 1 am positive as to one. 

Winch ? — I cannot say which ; if I had 
at all been terrified about tlie bills from 
any thing improper in tliem, I should 
have got them out of the way. 

Do you write the same kind of hand 
when you are guiding your mothei-'s 
hand as when you write your own ?— 
Vei-}' nearly, only that 1 do not write so 
quick when I am with her ; I have done 
it five hundred times ; she cannot write 
without a guide, not lately ; it must be 
my own writing, because she has very 
little use of her hand, therefore it is 
my writing, and not h^rs. 

Does not the fact of your having your 
mother's hand in y-ur own, while guid- 
ing the pen, make a difference in the 
appearance of the letter ? — It is very like 
tliat it may, i never attended to it ; it 



297 



has penerallybeensometliingshort where 
hei i.WKi wab used, such as signing her 
name, or huif a dc/zen words. 

Look at these, and see if both are not 
written in that waj with the siime hand ? 
— I i\ ally cannot say ; I do not see much 
ditiercnce between iheni ; 1 shouUl 
ratlicr think this one was the oiu-, i^ it 
•Was either ; if 1 did write it ahmc, this 
dated July, that is the quickest writing', 
it seems . s if it was done quicker than 
the otiiei-. 

Do }ou mean to say you do not see 
much diheieuct between the writing of 
tlmse two notes '.- It does not strike me 
there is a great dealof ditteience , I have 
Seen the notes before, and I believe nuide 
nearly the same observations ; and if 1 
was at all conscious of any thing impro- 
per in them, 1 certainly should have 
paid them before, for I dare say 1 have 
had it in my power. 

Do you ever write different hands ? — 
No, 1 do not know that I do, 1 do not 
'pay any attention to it ; other people 
are the best judges. 

Is the endorsement of the note that is 
endorsed, in your hand-writing'^ — No, 
it was done the same ; my mother was 
by, and I guided her hand. 

Tliat is guided too ? — Yes, it is upon 
the same bill, and Mr. Manners was by 
both times, and 1 believe he was not 
much better acquainted witli the bill 
drawing up tl.an ourselves, which made 
somethiug incorrect lure ; nor was 
Captain 1 hompson, to whom he gave 
them as paymaster. 

Have you ever imitated other hand- 
writings ; — Mo ; you do not mean that 
I imitated the Duke of York's ? 

Have you ever imitated any hand- 
writing ? — No, not to make any use of 
it ; I might, with iwo or three women, 
laughing, or any tiling in that way, imi- 
tate a hand, but not to make any use of 
it whatever ; not to send it out ever. 

You have, done it, to see whether you 
could do it? — I do not know that 1 have 
done it, but it is very often, when women 
are writing, that they might say, Come 
you write a Iiand, and see whetiier it is 
like any one's hand ; I Iiave done itjate- 
ly ; several of us were silting together, 
and we were playing at some kind of 
game ; perhaps there might be some bad 
construction put upon that. 

What have }0ii done ? — I have said, 
'is not this like such a sort of hand,' 
and, • that like s ich a sort of hand.' 

Wliat sort of liaucls were you imitating 



at that time, when you asked, ' whether 
it was like this sort of baud' or 'tliat sort 
of hand I ~l do not know ; it is very ri- 
diculous to mention here 1 think. Ihere 
is a game )Ou play at, you put down a 
man's name and then a woman's, and 
wlierc tliey are, and what they are do- 
ing, and then made a long roll oi' them. 

Is it a part of the game to imitate the 
hand-writing of the man whose name 
you put doM n ?— No, but it is very likely 
when you have written a man's name, to 
say, ' it is very like the way in wh.ch he 
writes it himstlf ,' or when speaking of 
a woman, 'it is very like tlie way in 
which she writes hers,' if they should 
be friends whom you name. 

Is it any part of the skill in that game 
to write the name as nearly resembling 
the hand-writing of the person whose 
name it is as possible ? — No, I should 
think not ; I wrote, without knowing 
it, something in the office here, that I 
was told was very like the writing of a 
person here. 

Whose writing did they say it was 
like ?— They said it was like the Speak- 
er's hand. 

Is tliere any other person's hand- 
writing that you have resembled ?— It 
was accident, I never saw his writing. 

Have you never told any body that you 
could imitate the handwriting of any 
one ?— No,l do not recollect that I have; 
theie was a story went about that I had 
forged for 2,000/. with the Duke of 
York's signature, *' Frederick," but I 
never did, I never signed his name iii 
my life, except when he has been there, 
and we have been trying, together, how 
near I could write to him, and he to me. 

You have tried sometimes to see how 
near you could write to the Duke of 
York ?- -Yes, but I never did it but 
when he was by. 

Could you write very near him when 
you tried ?---! do not know, he is the 
best judge of tliat ; I believe if he was; 
asked, he would not say I had ever made 
use ofhis name in any writing. 

In point of fact, when you tlid attempt 
to write like him, how did you suc- 
ceed .' -I am sure I cannot teH. 

You know his hand writing ?— Yes, 
lie fancied it was a great deal like his 
signed Frederick ; that was all I ever 
attempted about it. 

Do you know a person of the name of 
Town ?--;Yes, I do, a velvet painter. 

Did he ever instruct you in velvet- 
painting ?..-Yes, he did. 



298 



Do not you recollect having told him, 
that >ou thought you probably miglit 
muke considerable proficiency in that art, 
as you made great proficiency inwriting, 
and copying- hand-writings ?--No,I never 
told him any sucli thing ; you will i-ecol- 
lect he is a Jew : it is ridiculous. 

You are quite sure you never said any 
snri) thing ? — No, I should never have 
said such a thing to such a man. 

Did you ever write in his presence ? - 
I do not know j lie used to be with me a 
good deal in the morning, when I was 
learning the vi Ivel painting,and it is very 
probable I raiglu liave been writing to 
many persons wlicn he was there ; be- 
sides, he wus to have g'ot a loan for tlie 
D'ike of" York from Jew KLng, but his 
RoyalHighnt.ss would not liave any thing 
to do vviili liim when he found they were 
Jews, when I'own went to him, i)Ut I do 
not know that it was Jew King at the 
time ; he told me it was a regular gen- 
tleman. 

Did yoti ever, in a playing way, at- 
tempt to imitate the hand-writingof the 
Duke of York !— 1 do not think I did to 
him. 

Not to Mr. Town ?— No. 

Have you to any one else ? — I do not 
think I have, but he has seen a great 
many ladies, when he has been with me 
in a morning, and if he listened to any 
©four conversation, and made remarks 
upon it three or four years afterwards, I 
cannot say any tiling to such a thing ; ihe 
«nly cjuestion is, to ascertain whetiier I 
ever did make use of the Duke of York's 
name : if I had I am sure it would have 
been against me long before this ; per- 
haps he might have stolen something tliat 
might have been lying about the house. 

That Town might ? — Yes, he might 
very likely. 

Some of this writing, perhaps ? — He 
might have taken papers away perhaps, 
and thought they might liave been the 
Duke of York's ; I believe he had a note 
of introduction from me to the Duke be- 
fore he had seen these people about the 
Hioney. 

Did you, in his presence, ever imitate 
any other person's hand writing but the 
Duke's ? — I do not know that lever did 
at a 1 in his presence. ^ 

But he may have been in the room 
•when you did this with other ladies, and 
have overheard you?"Ferliaps he miglit; 
he has been there three or four hours of 
a morning. 

He may have been in the room when 



you were with other ladies, and have 
overheardtlie conversation which passed 
between jourself and your visitors ? — - 
Perhaps he might ; Ididnot stick to the 
paiiuing, and perhaps in the morning 
persons might call upon me. 

[The note being again shewn to the 
witness.] 

Look at the seal of that note ? do you 
know that seal J-lt is theDukeof York'tj 
private seal; I dare say I have many like 
it at home. 

What is the inscription upon it ?-— 
Never absent. 

Is the motto in French or English ?— 
I.i French. 

Who IS George Farquhar.'-— There is 
no such person in e.-cistence, I believe ; 
It was one of m\ brothers ; 1 lost two in 
the navy, and thai was one of them. 

Yfti do not rec<jliect to have received 
that letter which you state to be in the 
liand-wntmgof the Duke of York ?-No, 
but 1 must iiave received it because it is 
addressed to me, and it is his Royal^ 
Highness' writing ; I do not think he 
ever wrote to any other person under 
the name of George Farquhar but me. 

Do you recollect having applied at anj 
time to his Royal H.ghness, to suspend 
the promotion of Major Tonjn ?---! do 
not recollect that I did, it is a long wliile 
ago ; if it IS meant that 1 wrote that note 
of liisRoyal Highness', I dare say lie will 
not deny it, if it is slie wn to him ; I have 
seals that will exactly match with it on 
other letters of his own. 

Do you recollect any application to 
his Royal Highness which could have 
given rise to an answer similar to that 
contained in the note which has been 
read ?--No, I do not recollect any thing 
about it- 
Do you not understand to what the 
contents of that note allude ?— No, I do 
not ; for I have quite forgotten it ; Ithink 
Capt. Sandon must have taken it out of 
the house without my permission. 

Did his Royal Highness at any time 
leave that private seal in jour posses- 
sion ?---No, he has that and another that 
he used to use. 

You said that you had several impres- 
sions of the same seal in your possession; 
are those impressions unbi'okcn .'--No, 
certainly not. 

Are you positive you have no impres- 
sion of the Duke's seal unbrokf-n in your 
possession ?-- I do not know ; I should 
ratl'.er think not ; 1 waf> always inclined 
to read what he sent to me. 



299 



Are you positive that yoii have not any 
impiesslon of the Duke's seal unbroken 
in \ our possession ?--Doyoamean iflUud 
torn the letter and not broken llie seal ? 

It is not necessary to bre.ik the seal to 
open tlie letter.— I dare say I have many 
not broken, that yovi might verji easily 
4istinguish to he the same seal as that. 

Did the Duke wear this seal to his 
■watch ?— I do not know, I am sure. I 
feelieve not. 

Is the reason you have for guiding your 
molher-'s hand when she writes, your 
mother's hand being so unsteady, that 
she cannot write without somebody 
guiding iier liand ?---Yes, she cannot 
hold her hand steady at all. 

You believe tliat one of those bills was 
written b}' your mother holdingthe pen, 
and you guiding her hand ?--I guided 
altogether entirely ; in fact, it is my own 
■wr ting entirely whenever I make use 
«f her liand. 

The whole body of the bill as well as 
the signaiure ?---Yes, it is my writing 
more than my mother's. 

Siie held tlie pen and you guided her 
hand?- I do not know whether .she held 
the pen, but I am in the habit of doing 
these sort of tilings, when I want my 
mother's n.ime, but I never did any 
thing without her sanction at all. 

That is not the question at all.--Idonot 
know whatyoumiglitii'.sinuate ; thrbills 
have been already before the court mar- 
tial, and I dare say they made as many 
observations as possible upon them, and 
if I had been at all alarmed I should not 
have allowed them to continue so lf)iig ; 
but I believe this has nothingto do with 
the question before the house. 

Doyou wishthisCommittee to under- 
stand tiiat you wrote these bills, or your 
mother ?---You may say I wrote them. 

And her hand was not guided by you ? 
"-If her hand is in mine, and I guide, I 
■write, and not her. 

When you guide your mother's hand, 
your mother has the pen in her hand, 
has she not ?-"Yes. 

And you only move her hand and 
guide it ?- How do you know but what 
I move the pen ; if slie takes the pen up, 
I should take it down lower, perhaps. 

I do not know it, I wish to know it ?-- 
Then you shall see us write at any time- 
Did you hold the pen or not ?---I for- 
get ; there are the bills, aiul I forget all 
about them. 

Tlien you hqlding the pen, you wish 
the Committee to understand "tiiat in so 



far you xvrote both these ? — As you 

please. 

[ The Chairman directed the witness 
to answ^er the question. 
I have answered it ; that is all diflTerence 
of opinion. 

Then you holding the pen, you wish 
theCommittee to understand, that in so 
far you wrote both these N--I fancy I 
said I did not write them both. 

Did you in point of fact write them 
both, or only one, and did your mother 
write the other ?— I tell you it is impos- 
sible for her to write. 

To what do you ascribe the marked 
ditt'erencc in the hand-writing of these 
two bills ?--Thcy do not strike me as be- 
ing very diffisrcnt, but I certainly cannot 
write so very quick when I am writing 
with my mother's hands as with my 
own. 

Do you mean to say you dp not see 
any difference in the hand-writing and 
signature of these two bills ?".No,if you 
were to see the difference in my letters ; 
if you see a dozen of my letters, you 
will see them all different ; you would 
see a difference in each. 

If you guide your mother's hand, that 
hand being so unsteady, must there not 
be some unsteadiiicss in wiiat is written 
under that guid.ince '---No, it is entirely 
m^ own writing, although I guide her 
hand. 

Then both tlicse bills are entirely your 
handwriting ?---If you please to under- 
stand that, you may ; but 1 iiad die use- 
of my mother's hand, and they are my 
writing then. 

You have stated the signature to the 
bill of the 2Uth of May, signed " E. Far- 
quhar," was your mother's writing, un- 
der your guidance of her hand, and that 
that explains the difl'crence in the hand 
to the signature of the two bills ! — I did 
not say it explained the difference in the 
writing. 

You have stated, that the endorse- 
ment of the bill which is endorsed was 
made by your mother, you guided her 
hand ? — Yes. 

Look at the bills again. — It is no use 
looking at them, 1 have looked at them 
before. 

Look at them again ; look at the sig- 
nature of the bill of the 2t^tli of May, 
and at the signature of tfee bill of the 15th 
July, and at tlie endorsement of that 
bill, and endeavour to slate, if you can, 
vhethcr they are all written by the same 
hand ?--Thcv arc all written by the sani-e 



300 



hand because they are written by mine 
and by my mother's. 

Can you give no other explanation of 
the difference in the appeai'ance in that 
^vriting ?---No, I cannot. 

Did Major Tonyn lodge in the hands 
of a third person 500 guineas, 500/. of 
which, after he was gazetted, went to 
youi-self, and 25/. to Mr. Donovan ?— 
I did not state any such thing, for I did 
not know what Mr. Donovan had ; I 
only stated what I had myself. 

What had you youi'self ?— What I 
said before. 

Was that 500/.— Yes. 

Was it not natural for you, as you 
knew you were to receive 500^ to hur- 
Ty the gazetting of Major Tonyn as 
much as you could ? — Not if there were 
any circumstances against it. 

Did you not wish that Major Tonyn 
-should be gazetted, in order that you 



might get the SOOl. ?— In the end I 

did. 

Tf you had written any letters to the 
Duke of York on the subject, with tliat 
wish in your mind, would it not have 
been a letter to urge the gazetting of 
Major Tonyn ?— I do not recollect writ- 
ing him any letter, nor do I recollect 
having any answer about it in writing. 

If you had written to the Duke of 
York upon the subject^ would you not 
have been more likely to have written 
to hasten the gazetting of Major Tonyn 
than to delay it ?--I do not know. 

[The witness was dii-ected to with- 
draw. 
[The Chairman was directed to re- 
port to the House the papers which 
had been brought from Captain 
Huxley Sandon's, and to move , 
for a Committee to inspect them ; 
and to ask leave to sit again.3 



> I 






APPENDIX, 

TO THE NINTH DAY'S MINUTES. 



REPORT. 



The Select Cavimittee, appointed to inspect 
certnin Letters, iv/iich have been deliv- 
ered into the Comviittee of the luhole 
House, appointed to investigate the 
Conduct of His Royal Highness the 
Duke of Tor k, the Commander in Chief, 
•with regard to FroJnotions, Exchanges, 
and Appointments to Cominissions in 
the Army, and Staff of the Army, and 
in raisi?!g Levies for the Army ; and 
to report to the House such of theon, or 
such parts of them, as mati be relevant 
to the matters referred to the considera- 
tion of the said Committee of the whole 
House ; — Have agreed to report as 
follows : 

Your Committee have inspected the 
several letters referred to them by the 
House ;-and are of opinion, that all the 
said letters may be relevant to the mat- 
ters in question. 

The said Lettex's are as follows : 

1. " 11, Holies-street, Clavendish- 
" Sir, square, July 2d, 1808. 

" Perhaps you may have forgotten 
there was such a person in existence as 
the writer ? I have been in tlie country 
for a year and a half, and 1 am but just 
returned from it, to remain in town ; 
and I should feel myself particularly 
obliged if you will favour me with your 
friend Colonel French's address, or his 
agent in the Inn, in Holborn, which has 
slipped my memory. — Pray forgive the 
trouble, and believe me your most 
obedient. 

« MARY ANN CLARKE. 
*• Captain Sandon, 

Royal Waggon Drivers." 

2. JL. 

" 14, Bedford-place, 
*' Dear Sir, Russel-square, July 23. 
" On Saturday 1 was favoured with 
your answer, but as I have removed 
from Holies street to this place, to save 
voii the trouble of calling- there, these 
39 



lines are addressed you. 1 am now 
with my mother, and I fear for the 
whole of the summer. 1 did not want 
any thing of French but to ask a ques- 
tion. I am, dear Sir, 

" Your obliged, &c. &c. 

"MARY ANN CLARKE. 
" Captain- Sandon, 

Royal Waggon Train." 

Two penny Post Unpaid 
Tottenham C R. 

3. " Mrs. Clarke will be glad of a call 
from Captain Sandon, if he is returned 
to town, to-day or to-morrow. 

" Gloucester-place, Friday. 
'* Colonel Sandon, 

Bridge -street, Westminster." 

4. " I am thoroughly convinced of 
the money being too trifling, and I have 
mentioned it to a person who knows the 
full value of those things, so you may 
tell Bacon and Spedding, they must give 
each of them more two hundred, and the 
Captains must give me fifty each more. 
I am now offered eleven himdred for an 
older officer. 

"M. A. C. 
" I must have an answer this evening 
to this, as I am to speak with him on it. 
I have mentioned as your being con- 
cerned for me. I go to the little Thea- 
tre this evening." 
" 1804. Colonel Sandon." 

5. " Will you, my good sir, drop me 
a line Monday Morning, saying if you 
have been able to influence any person 
who is with Pitt, to attend the House 
on Monday to give his vote. 

" I have this morning received the in- 
closed fi'om Corri, and where he marks 
under he alludes to your business, and 
as I know he is a story-teller, 1 send 
you his letter. I am. Sir, &c. 

" M. A. CLARKE. 
" Col. Sandon, No. 15, Bridge -street. 

Westininster Bridge. 
" Pitt's Motion, &c. Corri— —com- 
plaint." 



302 



«* " Dear Sir, 

** He will do it so let the proposals 

be sent in by wlien he gets to town, 
which will be as soon as you get this, for 

one thousand at first. The Duke of 

Cambridge has already four thousand. 
You have not any occasion to be very 
particular as to their being protcstants, 
for I don't think it of any consequence to 
him ! ! ! I think you had better attend 
him on Tuesday, to ask his opinion of 
the papers sent in on Saturday, as I told 
him I liad seen the proposals, which you 
intended to alter and leave that even- 
ing— —Pray when you go put on a «/ce 
pair of boots, and let it be about half- 
past 3. " Adievi — burn this." 

" Mrs. darters Letter, relative to 
German Levy" 

7- " Can you give me a call to-day 
about one or two, or about five ? I 
wish to see yovi much. Tell-Spedding 
to write in for what he wants, as the D. 
says tiiat is much the best. Can you 
get half a dozen or so that want in- 
terest ? — I want money, which is more 
imperious, this is what I want to sec you 
upon, so )ou had better see Gilpin first. 

** What is become of Bacon ? 
" Colonel Sandon. 

" Interest and Money." 

8. «■ Dear Sir, 

" Pray do something for me soon as 
possible ; the Duke told me this morning 
that you must get on faster with your 
men, he has written to town for that 
purpose. You had better send me the 
exact number of all you have sent, and 
I will shew it him. 

" Colonel Sandon. 
*• He complains of the slowness of Re- 
cruiting the Levy." 

9. " 1 send this by a servant to 
Hampton hoping you will get it sooner. 
" Dear Sir, " Tliursday Morning. 

" The Duke has neither seenGeneral 
Tonyn nor his son — his son he does not 
know, and it is six months since he saw 
the General. He has ordered him to be 
gazetted, and is fearful it will be done 
ere he can stop it — he will be at the 
office to-morrow, and if not too late, will 
stop it. He assured me it was entirely 
owing to me that he thought to do the 
best by putting^ hi;n where two others 
Assett aud Bligh 

Majors have ieJt aiici he woxvld of course 
'^e two steps hig^her. 



" 1 hope to see you to-morrow, when 
you will be able to give me the anwer 
from Tonyn ; shall be in town about 5-- 

" The King and all the Family are 
coming to visit the Duke, being hi* 
birth-day ! • • Full of compliment, you 
see. 

" 12 o'clock, 17th August, 1804. 
"Colonel Sandon, No 15, Bridge-street, 

Westminster Bridge, London." 
" 12 o'clock, " Two Penny 

August 17, 1804, POST 

Noon. Twickenham." 

10. *• Mrs. Clarke's compliments 

await Col. Sandon, thinks it best for 
him not to come to her box this even- 
ing, as Greenwood goes with both the 
Dukes this evening, and of course will 
watch where your eyes direct noiv and 
then ; and should he see and know Col.v 

S , may make some remark by 

saying or talking of the Levy business, 
and it may be hurtful to his and Mrs. 
C.'s future interest. 

*• 9th Oct. 1804. See Richard Cauv 
de Lion.' 
«« Col. Sandon, 

No. 8, Lyon's Inn. 

11 " Deal- Sir, 

*' Capt'n Tonyn cannot be made this 
month as I expected ; the D. tells me 
it will be at least three weeks, he having 
so much to do in reviewing ; and there 
are some other promotions woiu to take 
place — hoviever the thing is done- 

" The little boy will be attended to. 
On Monday I shall go to Vauxhall witk 
a party, when perhaps I shall have the 
pleasure of seeing you ; it is the only 
night this summer I shall have the 
opportunity, as on that night he is 
obliged to attend the House of Lords, 
as they expect a great fight on Pitt's 
motion. I shall at some time take an 
opportunity of mentioning your majority. 
I asked him 'inhat he thought of you ? 

AD--- clever fellow Tou are t» 

have the bounty that Pitt is to give to the 
line, so that every thing goes on well. — 
I told him I should see you at Vauxhall 

on Monday. 1 am now at the end of 

my paper, so shall say adieu. 

" M. A. a 

•• He says General Tonyn is a stupid 
old fellow. 

" Relative to the majority and ad- 
vance of bounty. 

"Colonel Sandon, No. 15, Bridge-street, 
Westminster Bridge." 



303 



" Weybrldge, Friday Noon. 
12. ** Dear Sir, " ijuni tins. 

" I havf mentioned the Majority to 

the D , he is very agreeable to it 

——it is the Nephew of the Gen'l ; his 

Bon purchased a company last week 

Do you think it at all possible to oblige 
me on Monday with one hundred, I 
«lKtll be in town Sunday. If" I iiad had 
the pleasure of seeing you at the races, 
I intended to have pointed you out to 
tlie U If you are in town, will 

you have the goodness to send a line in 
answer. It will oblige muchyourmost 
" Obedt. M. A. C." 
'* Colonel Sandon, 

No. 15, Bridge-street, 

Westminster Bridge, London. 

" Majority, June 8th, 1804." 

C 4 

JUN 9, ESHER 

1804. 16 

13. " Thursday. 

" I'll tell you. Col. French, you can 
materially serve me, by giving me a bill 
for two hundred, for two months or ten 
weeks. 

" I shall at all times be happy to serve 
you in any way. I like Capt. Sandon 
extremely, I suppose he is the managing 
person. " M. A. C." 

*' Drop rae a line in answer. 
" 1st Letter from Mrs. Clarke." 

14. " Mrs. Clarke's compliments at- 
tend on Colonel Sandon, will be glad 
to see him to-morrow from eleven till 
•ne. 

" Thursday, Feb. 28." 
Two-Penny " Colonel Sandon, 2 

POST " No. 8, Lyon's Inn, 

Coventry St. " Whych street." 

15. " My dear Sir, 

" I am vexed to death, you will 
know the state of my finances, and I 
hit upon Spedding for Tuesday, when, 
behold, the Regt. he is in did their 
exercise so ba(i that the Duke swore at 
them very much, and has stopped the 
promotion of every one in it ! He said 
so much to the Col. (Wemyss, I think) 
that if he had been a gentleman he 
would" have given up— but he intends 
looking over the Memorial to-day, as S. 
has not been long in that Reg. and he is 
an old officer. So that you see if he 
gets his promotion, how very much he 
ought to be inaebted to my good offices. 



I must beg hard for him, the Duke is 
very angry with you ; lor when Jie last 
saw you, you promised him 300 For- 
eigners, and you have not produced one. 
O, yes, master Sandon is a pretty fellovf 
to depend on. 1 wish I had hit upon 
Eustace first. I told you, I believe, that 
they must be done gradually, his clerks 
are so cunning. Get Spedding to write 
out alistof his services, and send it to 
me as a private thing to shew him, not 
addressed to any one. Adieu." 

16. " Dear Sir, 

" I asked this morning if he had/»ni- 
seifveiid those papers I gave him of the 
Col.'s, he said that he had ; but that 
he still asked so much more tlian other 
men, that he could not think of closing 
with him ; however let him s.end again, 
as perhaps he forgets his papers in his 
hurry, especially as he had those at 
home. 

" I cannot do myself the pleasure of 
being [_tor?i2 

17 " Dear Sir, 

" I shall esteem it a favour if you will 
m&ka tniinediate inquiry about a lieuten- 
ancy, (1 understand there are two to be 
disposed of in the 14th Lt. Dragoons,) 
as Charles Thompson is determined to 
quit his next week, and I wish for his 
own sake that he goes direct to the 
other, as the Duke might be displeased 
with any one being idle at this critical 
moment. If you are in the way I shall 
expect aline— just to say if you think it 
possible for him to purchase so soon. — 
His R. H. goes out of town to Chelms- 
ford Saturday, and returns to town to 
his office 3 o'clock Tuesday. 

" M. A. C, 
" Colonel Sandon, 

No. 15, Westminster Bridge, 
Bridge-street, Westminster. 

18. " Dear Sir, 

" Major Taylor has proposed to do 
something in the Irish Levies for his 
It.-colonelcy, but it will be effizctcd ; 
the friend of oui'S says he will let him 
purchase, altlio' he is so young a major, 
but this you know is nothing to us ; so 
do you see him, and if you enter upon the 
same terms as before, 1 think I shall be 
able to teize him out of it ; let me know 
the result of it as soon as possible. 

" Do you think it at all possible for 
you and French to let rae draw a bill an 



304 



you for 200/. I am so dreadfully dis- 
trcS^fd 1 know not whicli w;iv to Uwn 
mjsfit', and before tliut will be due you 
are aware of whiit is to he done for me 
in tliiu ne^tiation. Tliank you for tlie 
pig, it was tlu' most delicate thing- of 
the kind possible. Adieu. 

" Dear Sir, I am, 
" Wednesday, Jan. 30." &c. &c. &c. 

19. " Dear Sir, 

" As I le.'ive towni on Monday even- 
ing, and running short of cash, will you 
be kind enougli to send me by Monday 
tlic luuidred pounds. 
" Colonel Sandon." " M. A. C. 

20. " Dear Sir, 

" Most ludbriunately Lord Bridge- 
water has asked fir the vacancy, 'ere in- 
deed it was one, so that that is done 
\_torn'] ; but H. R. H. will let me 

know if he can at 4 o'ck — He does not 
go out of town, as intended, to-morrow, 
on account of his Majesty having been 
insulted yesterday, and still fears it. — I 
have a bill due cither Saturday or Mon- 
day , I know not which day ; can you get 
me tlie five hundn <1 guineas ? — He has 
been signed, and will be in the gazette 
tomorrow ; you know wlio I mean. 

" Instead of a 60 guuiea harp let it be 
100, as 1 have told him you was going 
to present me one, therefoi'e it must be 
very elegant. 

" Tell Zeramenees he shall have 
[^toni] he wishes for 700 guineas 7iot 
[^torit^ he shall have it in a month. 

" Don't fail burning my scribble soon 
as read. 

" I do not go out of to\\-n to-morrow. 
" Colonel Sandon, No. 15, Bridge-Street, 
" Westminster : 

"or, Duke-strcei, AdelphI, No. 9, 

" Office." 

21. " Dear Sir, " Thursday. 
" I am extremely sorry to inform you 

(for the poorbo)'s sake) but it is impos- 
sible to admit him, as he has that misfor- 
tune you mentioned of being onened. 
Do you think it possible to get me a vote 
on Monday for Pitt's motion ? it will if 
carried bo of some consequence to us 
hereafter ; try all you can. 

" I remam, deai' Sir, Your's, &c. 

"M. A. CLARKE. 
*' Colonel Sandon, 
" Bridge street. No. 15, Wcstminstcr- 
" Bridge. 
" Send me an answer." 

22. " What you ask will be at your 



service, and the letter ■wUl be at your 
office Monday morning. 
•• Colonel Sandon." 

23. " Mrs. Clarke will be glad to see 
Capt. Sandon to-morrow, before twelve 
o'clock, if he is in town ; if not, Mon- 
day at live.— — 

" Friday. 
1 o'clock " Colonel Sandon. 

6 JY '• No. 5, B .dge-Btreqt, 

1804. N. T. "Westminster-Bridge." 

2 
TWO Py POST 
Unpaid. 

24. " Dear Sir, 

" There is not any such thing in con- 
templation as the written question. Will 
you again ask about an India LieiUen- 
ancy ? as the Duke assures mc there 
art- two for sale. In consequence of what 
I mentioned to him of Kenner he has 
made many inquiries and finds him to 
be a black sheep ; he offered to bribe 
Col. Gordon a few davs since ! ! 

"M. AC. 
" Colonel Sandon." 48th Antedate. 

25. " Dear Sir. 

" 'Ere I leave town I scratch a few 
lines, begging you to be on your guard 
in every point ; but of my name in par- 
ticular, for the future never breathe it. 
— I am confident you have a number of 
enemies, for yesterday the —— was as- 
sailed, from seven or eigiit ditterent per- 
sons with invective against you — He is a 
little angry at something ; yet will not 
tell it me — I think this fellow Kenner 
tries his friends — they laid fine com- 
plaints against you — did you tell Zimme- 
nces that as soon as Tonyn was gazetted 
you would get him done ? in the s^me 
way, and th.it I was the person ? — Let 
me see you on Tuesday. 

" Adieu, I am interrupted." 

26. " My deal- Sir, 

" Be so g-ood as to look at the gazette 
to-morrow evng. as I rather expect some 
of the names to be inserted. I have 
others whicii I assure you upon my hon- 
our. The present for mjttrouble for the 
majority is seven hundred guineas, so 
if you have any more this must be the 
same — I shall be in town Monday, if you 
will have any thing to communicate. I 
remain, " Dear Sir, vours, SiC. Sic. 

" Friday Evng. ' " M. A. C. 

7 o'clock " Colonel Sandon, 

28 Sp. " No. 8, Lvon's Inn, 

1804 Nt. " Whych-streetj Strand." 

Two-Pemiy 
POST. 



I 



m 



-22d 

27. " Deai'.§ir, ^h 

" I mako a mistake, ili;in^t^€;;^,cl; reg- 
iment Mr. I'hompson is to purclase in- 
to, or ihe 8tli. Shl^ lA^ yf>" to-day ? 
" M. A. C. 
'fWliat is Thompson to s,^y^9 liisCplpnel? 
" Cliurlcs FarquUar Th(jmpbon, 
13 to aoi- 2;^d. 
" CoIwjbI, a^ivdyn, 15, Briijge-street, 
" WQPtmiAister. 

28. " I gave the pypcrs to hjs Rpyal 
tti^hi)i?ss ; Jic, vea,d l,iiem while witli 
me ; said he still thongiii men liigh ; 
but that an answer WQiild be left at liis 
office as the way of business 

". I told him if any was. appointed, to 
give the Col. tiie preference. Burn this 
soon as read. — 1 do not compreiiend 
exactly what you mean by five other 
things ; I don't think it possible." 

29. " Can you send me one hundred 
pounds to day ? and let me see you to- 
moiiow m0(i'ning. 

" Colonel Sandon." " M. A. C." 

30. " Dear Sir, Friday. 
"Will you go to the Horse -guards for 

me to day, and leave a proper letter as 
coming from Charles Thompson, asking 
for leave of, absence for a fortnight ; but 
if his services should be wanted he 
would join immediately : if you know 
any belonging to the adjutants,you could 
get it by to, morrow. 
" Colonel Sandon." "M. A. C." 

31. " I have a letter which says you 
are a money-lender, in colleague with a 
notorious n^an, called DelT ! I wish to 
shew it you. 

" I hope you will attend the Duke to- 
day, as Clinton leaves hiia ou Thursday, 
and he has all the writings for you in 
ha,))d : lie, will not l^ave his office till 
six. — 

"I shall be glad of a hundred guineas, 
if possible, this ^eek. Saturday week 
Tonyn will be gazetted.-How comes on 
French ? Call to-morrow, ifposs-ible. 
" Colonel Sandon, 15, Bridge-street, 
Westminster." . 

32. "As your servant has called, and 
fearing you may not have my letter — 
beg you to see the Duke to-day at all 
events, or else things will be longer 
about as Colonel Gordon takes Clinton's 
place on Thursday." 



33. , " Ipear Sir, 

",Pray vviiat can Speddi^g,^,^pi;l^jr 
5islj;ing. oji 'i'hui;sday, through Geneva! 
Tonyn, for leave to go upon hajf pay-;? 
'Tis Ojdd l;)<;h^vipur, and ypUjmuiJt tljjjik 
that some one thinks lyjeufi.ed.yery ill ; — 
of course, till this is fully explained, I 
shfill drop all t^ipuglitsof any thingelue. 

" Saturday. " 1 WW^'JA y.V.U'''s, 

" Qoionel i?^9don." "M. A. €.?' 

34. " S,r, 

" 1 am exactly tve^te4,*S| I,;ha,ve been 
led to believe, from mpre t])Hn,Qne H^i'^V.' 
ter, ;l?jit will thank you to, seiid me. Col- 
onel French's address to-day, before the 
ppst gops, out.— rl have notlyng to .4* 
with' your agent you know. 

" I remain, Sir, your jnost obedient, 
"'""M. A. C" 

35. •' As Colonel Sandon did not call 
according to promise, Mrs C. hope's he 
will have the goodness to send her a bill 
at two months, in the morning ; — surely 
all things will be settled before that be- 
comes due. Mrs. C. hopes he will not 
disappoint. 

" Monday. 
" Colone I Sandpn, Lyon's - Inn, 
•' Whych -street." 

36. " Sir, 

" X^u have disappointed me dread- 
fully, a bill of one' hun<^r^d at three 
months is us<jless,it must be for two hun. 
dred at three moivtljs,or o^ic a' si\ wK-ks 
, for one hundred 
or two months. I beg you to ictuni it 
by the bearer, as I mentioned my si'ua- 
ation to you. — Word it thus, 1 prom- 
ise to pay to six weeks or two innntlis af- 
ter date, pay Mr. Thompson, or order, 
the sum of one hundred poundsrfor value 
received. 

" Pray let me have it this e^veningat all 
events. ' "i M. A. C." 

37. " Mrs. Clarke's compliments at- 
tend Captain Sandon, will ieel liersili 
much obliged if he will do. his best for 
Thompson in the recruitingbusiness, as 
on his getting the men eai-ly will give 
him first rank. 

" Mrs. C. Ivas not been a^le to get an 
answer from H. R. H. about Taylor. 

"Dec. 26. 
•♦ Colonel Sandon, No. 8, Lyon's-Inn, 

*' Whych-street." 
2 Two Py. Dec. 26th, 1804. 

POST Dec. 26, 1804. 

Blandtbrd. J- S. 

7 o'clock 

26 Dec. 

1804. N. n. 



QQS 



SS. *' Mrs. C. must a^ain intreat the 

assistance of Colonel S . He well 

knows she has always done as he ha» 
•wished her to do. 

*' Colonel Sandon, No. 8, Lyon's-Inn, 
" Whych-street." 

39. " I am told an answer is left out 
for Colonel French, at the office, and 
that now he has dropped three guineas 
per man. — 

" I am not aware of what the answer 
is intended to convey. 

" Mr. Corri. Itorti] k will, 

40. " I hope you will not disappoint 



me, as on you alone depend my hop^p 
of taking up a bill over due. 
" Colonel Sandon." 

" 2. Westboume -place, Sloan^ 
41. " Dear Sir,' " Square, Dec. 2d. 

" Let me know where you are, and I 
have not the least doubt but I can serve 
you essentially, and remain as ever your 
friend. " MARY ANN CLARKE.'* 
"Captain Sandon, Waggon Train, Spain. 
" By Messrs. Green wood and Co. Lyon's- 

Inn, Strand, London." 

Portsmouth, Jan. 29, 1809; 
2d Dec. 1808. 

G. Jan. 30, 1809. 



■Tt- 




DOVER. 



72 



George/ Far/qhar, Esqr. 



•^ 
^ 



The torn Edge of the Paper. 



m 



Friday, February 17, 1809. 



COLONEL GORDON was called in, 

and examined by the Committee, as 

follows : 

I need not ask you whether you are 
acquainted with the Duke of York's 
hand- writing' ? — I certainly am. 

Look at that paper, [TAe short note 
spoken to by Mrs. Clarke last night"] the 
outside and the inside. — \_Colonel Gordon 
looked at the letter. 1 I have formed my 
opinion upon it. 

State to the Committee your opinion. 
— The utmost I can say is, that it bears a 
very strong resemblance to his Royal 
Highness' hand- writing ; but whether it 
is, or is not, I cannot take upon myself 
to say. 

You speak to the inside of the note, 
when you make that observation ? — To 
both inside and outside. 

Have you any reas-on to doubt that it 
is the Duke's handwriting ?— I do not 
think that I can, consistently with my 
own honour, give a sti-onger opinion than 
that which I have already given. 

Are those letters the hand-writing of 
the Duke of York ?— I think that is the 
hand-writing of the Duke of York ; \_a 
letter respecting General Clavering'] I am 
of the same opinion with respect to the 
other. 

I observe that you gave your opinion 
with respect to the first letter, on a com- 
parison with other papers in yourposses- 
sion, and that you did not compare the 
two last letters that were shewn to you 
witli those other papers ; for what reason 
did you make the comparison in the one 
case, and not in the other ? — The papers 
with which I compared the first scrap of 
writing, were letters that I have redeived 
from the Duke of York in 1804, 1805, 
1806, 1807, and 1808. which convinced 
me that the Duke of York varies very 
little in his hand-writing ; I thought it 
necessary to make a very accurate com- 
parison of the first paper, wlien so smalla 
strap of writings was produced to me, 



and I found that that scrap of writing, as 
I said before, bore a strong resemblance 
to the Duke of York's hand-writing ; in 
looking over the two last letters, each of 
which contained two or three pages of 
writing, I thought it quite imnecessary 
to make any such comparison. 

Was the opinion which you formed 
with respect to that writing on that scrap 
of paper, formed inconsequence of your 
knowledge of the Duke of York's wri- 
ting, or merely from the comparison 
which you made ? — From both. 

If a letter of the same hand- writing as 
that which you call the scrap of paper, 
had been addressed to you, and received 
by you, should you have hesitated to act 
upon it ? — I observe that scrap of paper 
had no signature affixed to it, 1 therefore 
would not act upon it. 

If that scrapof paper had had theDuke 
of York's signature affixed to it, would 
you have acted upon it ? — If that scrap of 
paper had had the signature of the Duke 
of York affixed to it, f Would have acted 
upon it. 

If, in the same hand in which that scrap 
of paper is written, there had been the 
signature of Frederick, of the same hand- 
writing, would you have acted upon it i 
—Unless I saw thehand-writing in which 
Frederick was written, I cannot possibly 
answer that question. 

[The witnes.s was directed to with' 
draw. 

GENERAL BROWNRIGG was call- 
ed in, and examined by the Commit- 
tee, as follows : 

Look at that paper which will be put 
into your hand, [«Ae short note] and say, 
whether you believe it to be the hand- 
writing of the Duke of York. Have you 
formed any opinion of that hand- writing ? 
— I think it resembles theDuke of York's 
hand-writing ; but I cannotpositivelysay 
it is his hand-writing. [ The letter respect- 
ing General Clavering being sheix-n to Gc- 



30& 



freral Broivnrigg.'} This is certainly like 
the Diikc of York's li.nul wntuij^-, thiit I 
have novy looked ai , but I do not ihink 
tlic address is ; the address is not like 
his Koyal Highness' writing. 

Do jou believe it is his hand-writii>g ? 
— It IS Si> like iiis hand writing, that I 
should conclude it is ; I speak of the let- 
ter dated Sandgatc, Augiisi 'i4, lt)U4. — 
[ The other letter produced by Mrs. Clarke 
was sfu-uin to General Brotviirigg.'] This 
leUir IS also like the Duke o( York's 
writing. 

What is your opinion upon it ? Do yoii 
believe thai \obe ins writing ? — I do be- 
lif^ve it to be his hand- writ. ng ; it is so 
like it, that 1 conclude it lo he his wri- 
ting ; and this i<. Iter dated the 4th of 
Aiigust, 1805, is not at all like his hand- 
wi iting- ; I should not suppose it is. 

Look at the short note ; look over leaf ; 
what is vour opinion of tliat ; whatdoy-u 
believe respectnigib.ai ? — Myo])li\ion is, 
that it IS not so like tin- Duke of York's 
h;ind-\vrit.ng as The ollu-rs ; it ih)es not 
reseini>le the Dukt. of York's hand- wri- 
ting m the same degree that the others 
do ; tlieie certainly does appear to me a 
similarity between tlie Duke's writing 
and this ; yet I cannot speak so positively 
as to its being his writing as I do to the 
others ; 1 cannot speak so decidedly. 

Is tile direction of that note more or 
less like ilie Duke of York's hand-wri- 
ting than the direction of the other notes 
you s|H'ak to?~I think it is more like it ; 
I tiiink the addre ""s appears to be written 
in the same hand as the inside ; the ad- 
dress is written in a better hand ; it is 
written faii-er, and more distinctly. 

From your observation of the hand- 
writing of the short note, do you or do 
you not believe it to the hand-writing 
of his Roynl Highness I — I certainly do 
not believe it to be the hand-writing- of 
the Duke jf York ; that is 'o say, 1 could 
not swear it was the Duke of York's 
hand- writing-. 

If the Duke of York's signature had 

been to that note, would you have acted 

•ipon it ?--I really tliink 1 should, looking 

It it cursorily, as I should in reaijing a 

hort note from the Duke of York, and 

.vitliovit having any suspicion that it 

ouhl not be the Duke ol York's hand- 

vrlting, I ver} probably should ha. eact- 

od upon it, if his signature had been to it. 

In this case, what gave you any sus- 
picion that that could not be the Duke 
of Yviik's wrifng ■ — Bee, .use I happened 
to be in the House of Commons last 



night, and heard this note made a mat- 
ter of question in the House ; that is my 
reason. 

Are the Committee to tmderstand that 
you do not believe tliat note to be the 
hand-writing- i>f the Duke of York ? — I 
can only re]>tat what 1 have before said 
in answer to the same question ; I think 
I have already answered that question 
in my last answer but one. 

[The witness was directed to with- 
draw. 

Colonel GORDON was again called in 

and examined bv the Committee, as 

follows : 

Did you ever hear that there was any 
suspicion raised respecting the small 
note which was lately put into your 
ha'id, whether it was the Duke of York's 
hand-writing or not, before you were 
examined at the bar upon that subject ? 
— Certainly I have. 

When and where ? — Tlie best way for 
me lo proceed is to tell the thing exactly 
.as it happened from the beginning to the 
end. 1 think kist Saturday week about 
half-past ten at night, the Duke of York 
.ind Mr Adam' called at my house ; I 
liad been extremely ftttigued and was 
going to bed ; I was undressed ; I went 
in my undress into the room where 
were the Duke of York and Mr Adam ; 
the first word that was said *o me was, 
by the Duke of York, and I thiiik the 
words were these : "Here is a very ex- 
ti aordinary btisiness ; here is a forgery." 
Upon which Mr. Adam related to mc, 
th.it Captain Sandon and Colonel Ham- 
ilton luid come to town ; that Colonel 
Hamilton h.ad called upon him, and told 
him, th.U he had seen a note of the Duke 
of York's in tiie possession of Captain 
Sandon. After some further conversa- 
tion more gener.il, upon this point and 
others connected with it, it was deter- 
mined that I should desire Colonel Ham- 
ilton to call at the Horse -Guards the 
next day at one o'clock, to meet Mr. 
Adam ; I did do so, and the next at one 
o'clock the messenger brotight word to 
me that Colonel Hamilton was waiting 
in the usual waiting-room ; Mr. Adam 
went out to him, and that is all that I 
can speak as to this note, of my own 
knowledge. 

Do you mean to state, that the sus- 
picion which yoti had heard of respect- 
ing this note, was an expression of the 
Duke of' York respecting a forgery ?— - 
Certainly. 



sd9 



Mow do you know that this is the 
*ame note to which the Duke of Yoik 
alhulcd ? — I really do not know any 
things about it, I never heard of any oth- 
er note. 

Have you ever heard of that note 
from that time to this ? — Yes, I have. 
In continuation of what passed on Sun- 
day, I think, I may state that I went 
the next day, the Monday or Tuesday, 
to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and 
I had furtlier conversation upon this very 
notej but I think merely recapitulation 
of what I have already stated to this 
Committee. 

Have you had any other conversation 
about this note since that time, with any 
person ? — I have carefully avoided any 
conversation upon it ; but I think the 
other evening', three or four evening's 
ago, waiting in the room above slairs 
witli Colonel Hamilton, some conversa- 
tion, very general, arose upon the sub- 
ject of this note ; but it was so very 
general, so very loose, (for as I have 
mentioned before, I carefully avoided 
interfering in it,) that I can only brings 
to my recollection that some conversa- 
tion did arise. 

Have you had any conversation what- 
ever, respecting that note, but tiiis which 
you have menliuned ? — I think I men- 
tioned the subject in strict confidence to 
General Alexander Hope, and also to 
General Brownrigg, perhaps to Mr. 
William Harrison, to wiiom I commu- 
nicate confidentially ; beyond that, 1 do 
not think that 1 have. 

What was it that you stated to those 
gentlemen ? — 1 must have stated to them 
pretty nearly the very same words that 
I have stated to tliis Committee, as 
nearly as I can recollect, nor more nor 
less. 

Did vou see any copy of tins note ? — 
Yes, I did. 

When was that ? — I thing' it was the 
same evening that the Duke of York and 
Mr. Adam called upon me. 

In whose possesion was it, Mr. Ad- 
am's or the Dike of York's ? 1 

think it was in the possession of Mr. 
Adam. 

Have you had any conversation with 
the Duke of Yoik upon that subject 
since tl at evening ? — Yes, I liave. 

When was that ? — I have had frequent 
conversations with him upon it. 

Detail those conversations as nearly 
as you can ? — I think a detail of those 



conversations would be little more than 
repetition of the Duke of York's asser- 
tion, that he thought the thing was a 
forgery. 

When was the last conversation you 
had with the Duke of York upon tliat 
subject ? — I will repeat the last conver- 
sation, I think, which took place this 
morning, about half-past ten o'clock, 
when I went to the Duke of York at my 
usual hour of business ; the first word 
the Duke of York said to me this morn- 
ing was. As you are to be called upon to 
answer certain questions in the House 
this night, I will not speak to you one 
word upon the subject. I said. Sir, I 
have been told that I am summoned to 
speak up(m the subject of that note, to 
prove the hand-writing, there therefore 
can be no diHiculty upon the part of 
your Royal Highness in making any 
communication to me that you think fit, 
as usual. The Duke of York, I think, 
said, I can only state what I have stated 
to you before, I have no knowledge of 
the thing, and I believe it to be a for- 
gery. 

Was that likewise the substance of 
the other frequent conversations you 
have had with the Doke of York upon 
this subject ? — Certainly the substance ; 
and, as nearly as 1 can recollect the 
words. 

[The witness was directed to with- 
draw. 

Mr. ANDREW DICKIE,wa8 called in, 

and examined by the Committee, as 

follows : 

You are a clerk at Messrs. Coutts' ? 
— I am. 

Did you ever see his Royal Highness 
the Duke of York write ! — I have seen 
him sign his name many times, " Fred- 
erick." 

Did you ever see him write any thing' 
beyond his name ? — I have seen him 
frank a letter. 

\_The tivo letters being sheiun to the 
Witness.'] Do you think yourself sutii- 
ciently acquainted with his Royal High- 
ness' hand, to be able to form any sat- 
isfactory opinion upon the letters shewn 
to you ? — It bears a similarity ; but with- 
out the signature being to it, I cannot 
speak to its being his Royal Highness* 
hand-writing. 

Major-Gcneral AI-EX ANDER HOPE, 
a taember •{' the House attending iv. 



40 



aio 



tus place ; the shoi'tnote was sliewn 

to l\im, and he was examined by the 

Committee, as follows : 

M.ive you observed that note ?--l have ; 
it appears to me like tiie hand -writing 
of the Duke of York; but to state whe- 
ther it really is or is not, is what I can- 
not undertake to say. 

[ The letter dated Sandgate being shevm 
to General Hope.'] I apply the s.ime 
answer to tliat as to tl)e note, only that 
I certainly should say that I coidd speak 
more positively, I think, to that than to 
the note ; but I must always qualify 
wiiat I say, that it is a shade of differ- 
ence only, I could not say positively 
that it is or is not ; but certainly the 
letter appears to strike my mind more 
forcibly as the hand-writing of the Duke 
of York than the note. 

\_The other letter being shewn to Gener- 
al Hope.'] I make the same answer as 
to tlu second letter. 

Does that shade.of difference, which 
you state, give you a degree of belief 
that the letters are the hand-writing of 
the Duke of York, preferably to thai of 
the note, arise from the quantity of wri- 
ting there is in the letter, or from any 
difference in the hand- writing of the note 
and the letter ? — I tiiink it very possible 
it may arise from the quantity of the 
writing ; it strikes me, it seems more 
like the writing of his Royal Highness ; 
1 do not feel able, certainly, to state the 
comparison between the characters of 
tlie note and letters, I spoke from a gen- 
eral imjjression, as it struck my eye. 

General BROWNRIGG was again call- 
ed in, and examined by the Com- 
mittee, as follows : 
If you had not been in the House of 
Commons last night, should you have had 
any doubt of that short note being the 
Duke of York's handwriting ? — I cer- 
tainly should, because I do not think that 
it is very like the Diikes writing. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

WILLIAM ADAM, Esquire, attend- 
ing in his place, a note was shewn to 
him, and he was examined, as fol- 
lows : 

^Vlltt is your opininn of the hand- 
writing of thai note ? — I ihink it is like 
the Duke of York's hand writing ; but I 
cannot i)0sitively say more than that. 
[^The Letters being shexvn to Mr Adii77i.^ 
T'liC letter (!a . .1 Saiulgutc, is, in my 
•pinion, in the hand-writing of the Duke 



of York ; I entertain the same opinion 
with regard to this letter, dated from 
Weymouth, as with respect to the last. 

Do you mean that you speak more 
positively to the letters than you do to 
the note ? — 1 do. 

Have yoti ever been told by the Duke 
of Yoi k, that the note at which you ffrst 
looked was a forgery ? — Colonel Gordon, 
in his testimony upon that subject, has 
given a very correct description of what 
1 heard the Duke of York say. 

Did the Dukv of York represent to 
you that note in the same light in wiiich 
he represented it to Colonel Gordon^ 
namely, that it was a forgery ? — When 
I first made the communication to the 
Duke of York, on Saturday evening the 
4th February, he declared without hesi- 
tation that he had no recollection what- 
ever of such a note, and that it must be 
a forgery. AVhen I went with him to 
Mr. Perceval's that evening, he made 
an asseveration precisely to the same 
effect ; and afterwards, when I went 
from Mr. Perceval's to Col. Gordon's, 
he made the asseveration at Col. Gor- 
don's, which Col. Gordon has already 
given in evidence. 

Are those the only occasions on which 
the Duke of York has informed you that 
that note was a forgery ? — Of course, I 
have had repeated conversations with 
his Royal Highness upon the matter 
now depending before the House, and in 
the course of tliose conversations, with- 
out being able to specify the particular 
time, his Royal Highness has held the 
same language. 

You have stated, that you thought the 
writmg of the note was hke the writing 
of the Duke of York ; do you perceive 
in the formation of the character of that 
note, any thing unlike the writing of the 
Duke of York ? — I cannot say that in 
the formation of the character,! perceived 
any thing unlike the writing of the Duke 
of York ; but from the shortness of the 
note, and from there not being a possi- 
bility of correcting judgment with re- 
spect to hand-writing, by the general 
appearance of it, which takes place in a 
long letter ; I am incapable of speaking 
with the same positiveness with respect 
to tliat as with respect to the letters. 

Mr. ANDREW DICKIE was again 
called in, and examined by the Com- 
mittee, as Tollows : 
What situation du you hold m Messrs. 

Coutts' house .' — Principal clerk. 



311 



Are you not, or were you not in the 
Itabit lately of accepung' bills for that 
house ? — I have been for a considerable 
time. 

Are you not therefore in the habit of 
observing' with great attention upon the 
hand-writing- of individuals who are con- 
nected with Messrs. Coutts and Com- 
pany ? — I am in general, but there is a 
clerk in our house who is more conver- 
sant in tlie signatures ot the different 
customers, who examines the signatures 
before the Uills are brought to me to 
accept. 

Is it not occasionally your business to 
ascertain the genuuieness of liand-writ- 
ing ? — No. 

Have you ever seen any draft filled up 
as well as signed, by the Commander in 
Chief ? — Ih.tve seen drafts signed by the 
Commander in Chief, but as to the filling 
up, I cannot pretend to say. 

\_The note and the letters being shewn to 
the witness'] Do yt<u see any dilierence in 
the handwriting- of that note and those 
two letters, and if you do, wliat is that 
difierence ? — There seems a little diiier- 
ance in the note ; it strikes me (hat it is 
noi sd^ike the Duke's, I think, as the 
others. 

Explain in what that difference con- 
sists. — Being smaller, and not like the 
others in point of letter- writing 

Did you put in the words " not so iike 
the Duke's ?" — What I meant by that is 
this ; two letters were laid before me, 
and I am asked whether 1 conceive them 
to be the Duke's writing or not ; I con- 
ceive the note not to be so much like. 

Did you insert the words '* not so like 
the Duke's ? — 1 beg to alter that ; not 
so like as those two letters which were 
shewn to me, purporting to be the 
Duke's. 

Have you not stated, that 3011 had 
never s en so much even as a draf filled 
up by the Duke ? — To my knowledge, I 
have seen HisRoyalHighness' signature, 
but I never saw his Royal Highness fill 
up a draft ; but 1 am not the cashier of 
Messrs. Coutts' house. 

Do yoti conceive yourself competent 
to say, except m the article of sign^ttire, 
whether the letter is like the Duke's 
hand-writing or not ? — I am not suffi- 
ciently conversant in his Royal High- 
ness' letter hand-writing. 
j^The witness was directed to withdraw, 

Mr. BENJAMIN TOWN was called 



in, and examined by the Committee, 
as follows : 

Where do you live .' — In Bond street. 
In what business are you ? — An artist. 
In what line ? — A veh ct-painter. 
Are you acquainted with Mrs. Clarke ? 
—Yes. 

Were yoti acquainted with her when 
she lived in Gloucester-place ; — Yes. 

Do you ever recollect having heard 
her sav any thing respecting hand-wri- 
ting ?-^Yes. 

Upon what occasion, and what was it 
that the sSul ? — In the course of conver- 
sation she observed she coiild forge the 
Duke's name, and she had done it, and 
she shewed it me upon a piece of blank 
paper, and 1 could not tell the ditierencc 
between the Duke's and her own 

What led her to make this observa- 
tion ? — That I cannot recollect. 

What was your business with her at 
the time of this coinersaiioii ? — I gave 
her a lesson that morning in the art of 
painting. 

Have you attended her for any time, 
to teach her the art of painting ? — Yes. 
Did tiie observation a* all arise out of 
the painting and the lesson that you were 
giving ? — I do not rightly comprehend 
you. 

Did the observation she made to you 
arise out of the subject that was before 
you, the lesson you were giving ? — No, 
there was writing on the table, some 
papers. 

VV hat led her to make that observa- 
tion ? — That I cannot recollect. 

Was that all that the said ?— That 
was all 

Did you ever see her imitating- any 
hand-wa-iting? — None but that that I have 
mentioned before j she shewed me the 
Duke's writing, which she said it was ; 
I cannot say whether it was or not. 

Did she imitate it in your presence ?— 
She did. 

Had she been drawing at that time ? — 
Yes. 

Did she say any thing about her pro- 
ficiency in the art ? — No. 

Do you mean that she only introdticed 
the observation, tl at she could forge the 
Duke of York's hand- writing, and im- 
mediately imitated it in your presence ? 
— She did. 

Did you make any observation upon 
it ?— Yes. 

What observation did yoti make ?-w 
That it was a serious matter. 



■312 



What did she say upon that, or did 
she say any thing ? — She laughed. 

Did she say any thing ? — She did not. 

You say Mrs. Claikc produced the sig- 
nature ofhis Royal Highness the Duke of 
York ; did you ever see any where else 
the signature of the Duke of York ? — No. 

Was xhe signature at the bottom of a 
letter, or was it by itself ? — That which 
was shewn for the Duke's, was on a 
square piece of paper ; what it was I 
cannot siiy thai was written. 

Did you read any part of that writ- 
ing ? — I did not. 

Are you sure tliatthe signature which 
you state to be tlie signature of the Duke 
of York, was not written bv Mrs.Clai-ke ? 
—It was shewn to me for the Duke's ; I 
cannot say whether she wrote it or not. 

What was tlie word, or words, which 
you believe to be the Duke's signature, 
which Mrs. Clarke imitated ? — Slie ob- 
served that the Duke signed his name 
three ways, Frederick, York, and Al- 
bany ; and which of the three 1 cannot 
positively siij-, it was one of those three 
1 am certain. 

You are not certain whether it was 
Frederick, whether it was York, or 
whether it was Albany ? — I cannot pos- 
itively say, but it was one of them. 

What branch of painting do you pro- 
fess to teach ? — Flowers, landscape, 
figures, and fruit. 

In your instructions to your pupils, do 
you ever teach tliem to draw letters in 
any particular way, with flourishes and 
flowers, or any tiling of that kind ]— 
Yes, I do. 

Should you know the writing if you 
•were to see it, which resembled that 
•which Mrs. Clarke wrote in imitation of 
the Duke of York's ? — No, 1 should not. 
The one that she copied from, the one 
that she shewedme,that she said was the 
Duke's, I shovildknow if I was to see it. 

Did Mrs. Clarke state that she could 
imitate the Duke of York's signature on- 
ly, or his hand-writing in general ? — She 
pnly observed his signature. 

From the attention to formation of 
letters in regard to your art, you proba- 
bly can speak to what sort of hand it 
was that was shewn to you as the Duke 
of York's ; was it a small hand, or a 
lai'ge one ? — It was a small hand! 

Was it a flourishing hand, or a plain 
one ? — A plain hand. 

You mentioned, I think, that Mrs. 
Clarke tf>ld you she could imitate the 
Puke of York's hand- writing J— She did, 



and she shewed it to me on a square 
piece of paper. 

The word was " imitate ?"— No, 
"forge." 

Were you much in the coiWidence of 
Mrs. Clarke ?— No. 

You were not at all in the confidence 
of Mrs. Clarke when she shewed you 
how she could forge the Duke's hand ? 
—No. 

To whom did you first communicate 
this fact, of having heard Mrs. Clarke 
make use of these expressions i — Lady 
Haggerstone. 

At what time ? — She was taking a 
lesson. 

How long ago ? — I look upon it to be 
about three weeks, or more ; I c-annot 
say to the time positively , I look upon 
it to be three weeks, or rather better. 

Hud any body applied to you, to ask 
whether you could give this information, 
or did you, of your own accord, volunta- 
rily mention it first to Lady Hagger- 
stone ? — It was in the course of conver- 
sation ; she was observing one thing and 
the other, and she brought up the Duke's 
afl'air,the business concerning the Duke; 
and I suppose Lady Haggerstonb' had 
mentioned it somewhere, and therefore 
I was called up to give evidence. 

Is it the impression upon your mind, 
that Mrs. Clarke had great facility in 
imitatinghandwriting?--Yes,theDuke's 
hand, that that was shewn tome for the 
Duke's. 

You have said, that in your presence, 
Mrs. Clarke, upon a piece of paper cop- 
ied the signature, as you supposed, of 
the Duke of York, which was so exactly 
similar, that you could not teil the dif- 
ference ; do you mean to say, you con- 
ceived Mrs, Clarke was equal to imitat- 
ing hand writings with great ease ?— 
She copied that extremely well, as I 
thought ; I never saw her copy any oth- 
er writing. 

How long is it since you gave any les- 
son to Mrs. Clarke the last time ? — I can- 
not say, witliout reierring to my book. 

Did you and she part on good terms I 
—She is in my debt. 

Was there ever any quarrel or ani- 
mosity between you upon any subject I 
—None whatever. 

Did you never question her about 
paying your debt I Yes. 

Had you ever any disptite upon that 
subject ? — None whatever. 

Has she paid you all that is due to you ? 
-rNo, 



3i3 



Had you any conversatipn with Mrs. 
Cluikt: iibout a loaii of" money I — Yes. 

Stale the substance of tliut conversa- 
tion to the Committee. — She said the 
Duke wished a sum of money ; she beg- 
ged of me to inquire of Mr. Abraham 
Goidsmid, if he would ; he said he was 
no money-lender. 

Did you ever say that a person of the 
name of Jew King was to lend him mo- 
nev ? — She requested of me to go to Jew 
King. 
[^The witness was directed to withdraw. 

Mr. JAMES BREWER was called in, 
and a letter being shewn to the wit- 
ness, he was examined by the Com- 
mittee, as follows : 
Do you know that to be the hand- 
writing of Lieutenant-Colonel Jolui 
Tucker ?— It is. 

You have seen him write ? — Very fre- 
q-iL-nlly. 
[A Utter from Colonel Tucker to the 

Chairm.inof. he Committee was read.] 
(Public) " Adjutant GencraCa Office. 
" sir, Edinburgh, Feb. 12, 1S09. 
"Having perceived, with considerable 
regret, that the name of my lamented 
brother, who was lately lost in Ivs Ma- 
jesty's sloop Primrose, has been brought 
forward by Mrs Clarke, in her examina- 
tion before the honourable House of 
Commons, I trust you will excuse my 
addressing you, with a view to remove 
any impression from the public, that ei- 
ther he or viyseifhsLva obtained our pro- 
motion, at any time, through the means 
of undue or improper injluvnce ; for which 
purpose 1 hope I may be permitted to 
IstuteyacJj, without incurring the imputa- 
tion of presumption or vanity. My bro- 
ther's military career was commenced in 
1790 in India, where he served during 
the campaign of Marquis Cornwallis in 
that country. He subsequently served 
in Egypt, as Major of Brigade to Lt. 
General Sir David Baird, through whose 
friendship and good opinion he obtained 
the brevet rank whiclt he held in the 
service ; that of iiiajor was conferred 
upon him in consequence of his situa- 
tion as Deputy Adjutant -general to the 
forces employed under Sir David Baird, 
at the capture of the cape of Good Hope; 
and that of lieutenant-colonel was ob- 
tained for him by the same excellent of- 
ficer, on their return from the Cape. 
Jle had obtained an effective majority a 
few weeks prior to his melancholy and 



lamented fate, having served as assistant 
adjutant-general \x\ Zealand, and as depu- 
ty adjutant general to the army under Sir 
Arthur Wellcsley in Portugal. 

'♦ Of his merits as an officer, many 
distinguished Members of the honoura- 
ble House are able to speak ; and, I 
doubt not, will do justice to his memory 
and character. 

*' With respect to my own promotion, 
I can solemnly declare, that I liave ob- 
tained it in regular regimental succession, 
by pur chase, with the exception of my En- 
signcy and ^t"ei/fena«cj, which were given 
to me, and the brevet rank of Lieut. Colo- 
nel, which I received in consequence of 
havingbeen selected by Sir Samuel Auch- 
muty, to the bearer of his dispatches, 
announcing the reduction of Monte Vi- 
deo, in South America, by assault, on 
the od of February, 1807- I have had 
the holiour of serving as a volunteer, on 
several expeditions, and I feel confident 
thai I have used every endeavour to merit 
the favours which my gracious Sovereign 
has deigned to confer upon me. 

" I feel it (/lie to my deceased brother, 
and to myself, to make this communica- 
tion to you, being solicitous that my 
brother Officers may not be induced to 
believe, from the declaration of Mrs. 
Clarke, that any undue or improper in- 
fluence has in the least degree, tended 
to procure rank to either : and, -'.s my 
feelings are naturally interested on this 
unpleasant subject, I earnestly request 
that you will have the goodness to cause 
this statement to be made as public as 
possible. Trusting to your liberality, 
" I have the iionour to be, 
«' Sir, 
" Your most obedient and humble serv'f , 
" John G. P. Tuckeu, 
Lt. Colonel- 
" To the Ifonourable the Chairm,an 
of the Committee, Cfc. &c. 

Mrs.MARY ANN CLARKE was call 
ed in; and was informed by tlie Chair- 
man, that when any letters were put 
into her hand, to ascertain her own 
hand writing, she was not to read the 
contents of those letters. 
This is my hand-writing. fNo. 1.) 
\_Mrs. Clarke idcntifed other letters, num- 
bered to 41.3 

Mrs. Clarke. No. 42 is a piece of the 
Duke of York's letter which had come 
from Dover, with his seal upon it; it is 
directed "George Far(juhur," andhas tha 



Sii 



same sort of seal as tlie note that Capt. 
Sandon had here last night. 

fThe papers from No. 1 to 42 inclusive 
were I'ead.] 

Capt.HUXLEY SANDON was brought 
to the bar, and was examined, as tol- 
lows : 

State to the Committee from what 
inolive you, whenyou were the first time 
examined about the busmess of Major 
Tonyn, did not mention the note which 
you produced last night. — I really am 
extremely ashamed of myself that I did 
not ; and I hope the honourable . House 
•will pardon me. 

What motive had you for not men- 
tioning that note, when you were first 
examined at the bar ? — I really had no 
motive. 

Were yoti aware that it was a materi- 
al circumstance to the point on which 
you were examined ? — Certainly it was. 

Were you not aware that you were 
bound to give such information as was 
within your knowledge respecting tJ)at 
fact ?— I did not understand that 1 was 
obliged to give it ; I thought, if the ques- 
tion was asked me, I was obliged to an- 
swer it. 

State the reason why you did not men- 
tion it on your first examination. — I 
really do not know how to answer the 
question. 

Why, when you were asked about this 
note, did you deny knowing what was 
become of it ? — At that period the note 
was mislaid. 

Last night did you not know what was 
become of the note ? — Not till I went 
home ; it was mislaid. 

[The witness was taken from the bar. 
FThe witness was again brought to the 
bur.] 

Chairman. Captain Huxley Sandon, 
I am instructed by the Committee to re- 
mind you of the heavy pvmishment which 
has been inflicted upon you for gross 
prevarication, under the infliction of 
which you are stiU labotiring ; and to in 
form you, that if you persevere in the 
same system of gross prevarication, you 
have not yet experienced all the punish- 
ment which can be inflicted upon you by 
the justice of the House of Commons. 

Capt. Huxlcy Sandon. Mr. Cliairman, 
I really do not mean to prevaricate ; I 
am very sorry this honourable House lias 
that idea ; I will s])cak every thing I 
know ; it is my wish, I assure you, not 



to prevaricate ; I ^111 tell every thing I 
can possibly know 

Do you recollect any conversation 
which you held with Colonel Hamilton 
somewhere in London, since your return 
to London, when you informed Colonel 
Hamilton that the note was destroyed, 
wherein you used this expression, " they 
have forgot it," or '• forgotten them ?" — 
Not upon my recollection, upon my hon- 
our ; I will certainly say every thing I 
know ; it is my wish and my inclination. 

Do you recollect any conversation 
which you held with Colonel Haiiiilton 
s.ome where ii' L' ndoh, since your return 
to London, when you informed Colonel 
Hamilton that the note was destroyed, 
wherein you used this expression, " they 
liave forgot it," or " forgotten them ?" — 
No, I nevermadc use of that exp. ession. 

Was it with a view to any emolument 
or advantage to be derived from the 
possession of that letter, that you con- 
cealed it ? — No, certainly not. 

What was the motive which induced 
you to conceal that letter from the 
House, till, by the punishment of the 
House being inflicted upon you, you, by 
the fear of that punishment, were in- 
duced to produce it ? — I had no particu- 
lar motive for keeping back that letter. 

Do you then mean to state, that whh- 
out any direct motive for so doing, you 
to<d a deliberate falsehood at the bar ? 
— I :.m sorry to say that 1 did. 

Did you, or did you not, at the time of 
your examination here last night, think 
that that note was of importance ? — Cer- 
tainly I did. 

In what way did you think that note 
of importance ? — Because it was the note 
that 1 presented to Major Tonyn, which 
convinced him that it was the interest I 
h;id with Mrs Claike that got him the 
Majority. 

Did you know, of your own knowl- 
edge, the hand-writing of that note ? — 
I never saw the hand-writing, to my 
knowledge, before. 

Did Major Tonyn, seem to know the 
hand writing, or did he make any ob- 
servation upon the note, and what ? — I 
do not recollect that he did ; I shewed 
him the note, and at that period he said, 
then the matter might stand over for 
two or three Gazette days, or a Gazette 
day or two. 

State why it was of importance to yon 
to conceal that letter. — I had no particu- 
lar reason why I concealed it. 

Did Colonel Hamilton, when you 



^s 



sKe^ed him that note, tell you it was the 

hand-wrilm;^ of" his Royal Highness the 
Diikf- of York. ?--N<), lie did not. 

What remark did Colonel Hamilton 
make upon that note, when you slicwed 
it 10 him ? — Previous to my shewing^ him 
the note, 1 told him that I understood it 
was his Royal Highness' hand-writing ; 
he asked me what kind of hand it was, 
whether it was a neat little hand, and 
whether the large T's were made in a 
particular way, turning over ; and when 
I shewed him the note, I asbd him, do 
you tliinkit is his Royal Highness' hand- 
writing ? — He made no answer. 

Did you apprehend any danger or in- 
convenience to yourself, from acknowl- 
edging that the note was in your posses- 
sion ? — No, I did not 

[The witness was taken from the bar. 
QThe witness was again brought to the 
bar.] 

Have you any recollection how long it 
was before the appointment of Major 
T inyn appeared in theGazette, that you 
shewed the note you received from Mrs. 
Clarke to Maj.Tonyn ? — I tliink it might 
be two or three Gazette days ; eight or 
nine or ten days. 

Look at that paper, (No. 42.) — I know 
tins paper. 

How came that paper into your pos- 
session ? — It rolled up the note I had to 
shew Major Tonyn. 

Was it in that state when you receiv- 
ed it ? — Exactly in that state. 

Had it no other writing upon it ?-No, 
nothing more ; it rolled up the note I 
received from Mrs. Clarke to shewMaj. 
Tonyn. 

Do you recollect why Mrs. Clarke 
g'ave you that bit of paper to roll up the 
note ? — No, I cannot recollect why she 
did it , let me recollect ; why, there was 
some reason why it was given ; I cannot 
positively take upon me to say what the 
reason was, but there was some reason 
why the note was rolled up in that piece 
of paper ; there was some reason, which 
I cannot now really recollect. 

Try if you can recollect it. — I cannot 
recollect ; but I am perfectly sure there 
was some reason why she gave me the 
note rolled up In that bit of paper ; I 
think, if my memory will bring me 
through, it was when the Duke was re- 
viewing somewhere upon the coast, and 
it was to prove to MajorTonyn, in some 
way or other, that that note was written 
by his Royal Highness. 

"Do you mean that the Duke was re- 
viewingneartU^ coast whgn ygu skewed 



this paper to MajorTonyn ? — He was gn 
the coast, I understood at that period : 
she had received this letter, which she 
produced ; I do not know whether she did 
not produce the letter, and read part of 
it to me, and then she tore off a piece, 
and rolled up the other.and said, this will 
convince him that this comes from his 
R. Highness, who is now upon the coast. 

How could that letter, nothavingupoi> 
it the Duke's name, convince any body 
that another letter that appeared to be in 
the same hand-writing was the Duke's } 
— I really do not remember now, but that 
he was at Dover or in Kent, reviewing, 
at the period, I perfectly well recollect. 

Do you not recollect that the Duke of 
Yoik's name was upon the ft-auk of the 
letter at the time it was produced to 
you ? — I never saw it. 

Was there any thing respecting the 
seal that was to be observed? — Not that 
I recollect. 

Why should you give credit to that co- 
ver more than to the note ?— It is so long 
since, that I cannot recollect why, but 
that there was some reason I am certain. 

Recollect yourself how you came to go 
to Mrs. Clarke's on that day, whether by 
accident, intention, or solicitation ! — I 
should think it was from solicitation. 

In what room did you see Mr.s. 
Clarke ! — I really cannot say ; I used to 
see her in every room ; such as the 
drawing-room, andthe dining-room, and 
her little dressing-room. 

Will you recollect whether any per- 
son was preseno ? — No, I do not recol- 
lect that circumstance. 

On what business did you go there oa 
that day ?— I think it was from her soli- 
citation, that I might go to Maj.Tonyn, 
to inform him that she had got this pa- 
per, or that I was to take the note and 
shew it to Major Tonyn, it came from 
his Royal Highness the Duke of York ; 
but there arc some letters which I gave 
up to this honourable House, that I 
think mention something about that very 
business. 

Did you state to Mrs. Clarke, that 
Major Tonyn wanted his security back 
again, or his money ? — That he wanted 
back his memorandum. 

What contrivance was it between Mrs. 
Clarke and you to keep Major Tonyn 
from recovering that memorandum ? — I 
know of no particular contrivance ; she 
desired 1 would go to him, and speak 
about the Majority. 

Then the Committee is to understand, 
that vott wenttiiere and had a convers*- 



olG 



tiou wllli Mrs. Claiko, how to managfc 
to kiop Major Toiiyn in temper until 
tir.s M.ijority co\ilil be had, ami that you 
fuiiuil there a note, purportinjj to be a 
a note (w\n the Gommandcr in L;hief» 
ready written and sealed ? — I do not ex- 
actly rccolleet that circumstanee ; I have 
related previous to it how I cante ac- 
quaiiued with Major Tonvn ; it whs on 
the very demur, when he was lircil of 
the husit'ess.aiul thoiiglit the intUienee I 
had covdd not gvt the matter done, and 
desired me to };x"t baekthe security ; the 
conseiiuence was, I informed Mrs. 
Clarke ofthe svdiject. 

And she hail a note ready ? — No, I 
bejj your panlon.not thai I recollect, then. 

Tlie note wsis not ready I — Not tluit I 
recollect. 

Then if the note was not ready how 
eame jou to bring' it away with yon ? — I 
do not recollect ; she told me she had got 
a note, and shewed me this note, and de- 
sired me to take it to M.ijor Tonyn ; I 
of course took it, and toid liim that was 
the interest by which we would obtain 
tlie M:iority ; 1 did not know at that 
time tliut it was from the Commander 
vu Cltief ; Mrs. Clarke g-ave n>e the note, 
and said th.it he had better wait two or 
three i^azette days, and in all probabili- 
ty he would be s;'av:etted. 

Did you hnd the note there, and was 
it sealed or not ? — When I first saw the 
note, it was not sealed ; it was broken 
open, the seal was broken. 

Wasitiv-sealed' — Ni in tny presence. 

Did you deliver it sealed to Captain 
Tonyn ? — No, I tiH>k it in my baud and 
shewed him the note. 

Will you undertake to say that there 
ncvM" was a contrivance between your- 
self and Mrs. Clarke, on any occasion of 
tltis kind, to fabricate such a note .' — 
Positively never. 

You have stated that the Commander 
inChief wasre>iewi\>i;on the coast when 
your ivcei\ ed that note from Mrs. Clarke ? 
—So I understood fri>m Mrs. Clarke. 

How lotip: had his Royal Hig'bness 
been absent from town at that time ? — 
I really cannot say. 

Had he been three days absent? — I 
really not know. 

Ti>ere are certain pencil n^arks and 
other marks of yours upon the papers 
which were laid ujxm the table last nij^ht ; 
,\vere llu>se murks and dates the dates of 
the times tlvat you received those papers? 
—If you will do me tlie honour of leilm;.;: 
«»o SCO the papers, I will say for what 



purpose I put them, to tlie best of my 
recollection. 

[.AT;. 9 xuus sheivn to the witness.'^ On 
thai you wiii fmd a pencil mark, " Inli 
of Ausjfus'., I8u4!" state what that pencil 
mark moaiis?— This of course must be the 
date of it ; here it is upon the post-mark 

Was the pencil the date when you re- 
ceived it ? — No, it cotdd not be, for here 
is " .'Vugust the ITtii." 

Wiiat is the meaning- of that pencil 
mark ? — That must be frmn sometliin}'- 
of this sort, for here is irUi of August 
upon the post m;u'k. 

What is the meaninp: of this pencil 
mark ?~I suppose it must be tlie date 
of the Utter. 

Is not tliat pencil ma-k your hat\d- 
writing I — I think it is, but the words 
" Mis. Clarke" upon it, arc not mine. 

{^Xo 12 -vO.Ji- i-AciD/j to t':f iritneis.'\ Votl 
will observe there is a pencil date upon 
that letter of the 8'h of June, 1804- ; 
what diK's that pencil date mean, was it 
the day you received the letter ? — No, 
this must be wrong, because it is Jupc 
9ih, .ind here is *• June 8ih." ami Jane 
tlie Sihdoes not look like my haiul-writ- 
ing- ; the word *• Majority" is mine. 

Has that letter been out of your cus- 
tody since the time you received it, till 
last niglit ? — No, certainly not. 

Then is it jxissible any other person 
th.in yourself could h.ive put that date to 
it :--No, 1 should itnagiue not ; but still 
it does not look like my hand writing. 

Do you recollect the purport of the 
note ? — No, I entirely forget what it is. 
[The note was read. 3 

Hearing the purport of this note, state 
how this note, which mentions *' a stop 
to the business," could possibly encour- 
agv Major Tonyn in the idea of itsgxiing 
forwatH.1 ? — The note says, does it not, 
tliat it is to go on. 

On the contnu-y, it says it stops, 
*' shall remain as it is ;" how can this 
note, which spe:iks of its remaining as 
it is, encourage this gentleman in the 
CApectation of its gvMiig on I — It was 
then gv>ing on, and I shoidd imagine it 
was meant tliat it should g\> on. 

If you attend to the purpiu't of the 
note, you will fmd that it says it shall 
stand still ; what do you understand by 
tl'.e expression in that note, that it is to 
remain us it is ? — 1 really do not under- 
stand it, I must confess. 

[The witness w.hs t:iken frtmi the bar. 
[The Ch.urniaii was directed to r<.ptirt 

projjress, and ask leave to sit again.] 



li 



Monday, February 20th, 1809. 



THQMAS METCALF, M. D. was 
called in ami examined by the Com- 
mittee, as follows : 

You are a physician ? — I am. 

Are you Mrs. Clarke's medical atten- 
dant ! — I am. 

Have yo\i seen Mrs. Clarke in the 
course of the day ? — Yes. 

Is her state of hcaltli, such as to pre- 
vent her attending" to {jive evidence to- 
day ? — I think totally so. 

Can you form any opinion when Mrs. 
Clarke's health will permit her to at- 
tend ? — I should think in the course of 
two days. 
^Thc witness was directed to withdraw. 

[^It was moved and seconded, that 
the evidence to hand-writing about 
to be produced, be not received ; 
which beintj put, passed in the 
netcutive, without a division.] 
Mr. SAMUEL JOHNSON was called 

in, and examined by the Committee as 

follows : 

What are you ? — Inspector of Franks 
at the General Post-Oflice. 

How lonjj have you been in that situa- 
tion ? — I have been in the office about 
thirteen years or rather more ; in that sit- 
uation about six years ; I think it was 
in 1802 I was apjiointed to the franks. 

In that situation, is it your particidar 
duty to look at hand- writing-,and observe 
its different variation ! — It is our duty to 
perceive that no franks pass either from 
the House of Peers or the House of Com- 
mons, but franks by the Peers or the 
Members themselves. 

In the course of that duty, it is neces- 
sary for you to be very particular in your 
examination of hand-writing ! — As much 
80 as our time will permit. 

[The two letters and the note being 
.shewn to the witness.] You have seen 
these papers before, in the room of the 
House of Commons ? — 1 have. 

The paper to Avhich particwlarl v I wigk 

41 



to direct your attention is the small pa- 
per ; in your opinion, is that smaller pa- 
per the same hand writing as the larger 
papers ? — It resembles it so nearly, that 
I should think it was. 

In point of fact have you occasionally, 
from inspection only, detected false or 
feigned signatures ? — Yes. 
[|The witness was directed to withdraw. 

Mr. ROBERT SEARLES was called 
in, and examined by the Committee, 
as follows : 

What are you ? — A deputy inspector 
of franks. 

How long have you been in that situa- 
tion ! — About eighteen months. 

[The two letters and the note were 
shewn to the witness.] You have seert 
these papers before ? — I have. 

Look at them, and tell me whether 
you think they are all the same hand- 
writing ? — I think they are. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

Mr. THOMAS NESBITT was called 
in, and examined by the Committee, 
as follows : 

What is your employment ? — I am ia 
the service of the Bank. 

In what department of the Bank are 
you ? — Principal of the Letter of Attor- 
ney Office. 

In that office are you in the habit of 
examining hand*writings, that ;ire sus- 
pected to be forgeries ! — Yes, constant- 
ly so. 

How long have you been in that em- 
ployment ?— Between tlnrty and forty 
years, in the daily habit. 

Are you in the habit of examining 
writings that you so suspect, by compar- 
ing them with other writmgs, acknowl- 
edged to be the hand of the same party I 
— Certainly. 

In mr.king such comparison, what i« 
your usual habit of doing it !~A signa- 
twre t« a letter af attorney for sale is l*it 



318 



at the Bank for me to examine, and if to 
any other letter of attorney the proprie- 
tor has put his name, or hus accepted the 
stock, this letter of attorney in question 
would be examined by those signatures. 

In so doing, yon are m the habit of 
observing the turn of the different hands 
in writing the names, to see whether the 
party ^^T.ting turned his hand the same 
way ? — Certainly. 

[The two letters and the note were 
shewn to the witness] Have you seen 
these papers before ? — 1 have. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

[The witness was again called in.] 

State wlietber you tluiik these several 
papers were all written by the same per- 
son, looking both at the directions and 
tlie inside of tlie letters ? — 1 have looked 
very attentively at the note p;u'ticularly, 
and compared it with these two letters, 
and after a great deal of attention and 
cai'e in looking at almost every letter in 
the note, 1 am of opinion that it was not 
written by the same hand. 

On what circumstances in that note 
do you ground your opinion ? — Because 
I perceive a neatness through almost 
every letter of the note, wliich is not, I 
think, to be found in the letters ; and 
the whole of tiie writing in tlie note ap- 
pears to mc to be of a smaller character 
than tlie letters in gent- ral are ; I think 
I perceive a stiffness in several of the 
letters in the note, which 1 do not per- 
ceive in the two letters dated Sandgate 
and Weymouth. 

Have you any further observation to 
make ?— I will just add, that in the two 
letters dated Sandgate and Weym.outh, 
there appears to me to be a general free- 
dom I do not perceive in the note. 

You state that you perceive in the 
formation of the letters of the note a 
neatness of character which you do not 
perceive in the letters : do you not con- 
ceive that difterence may arise from the 
difference of tlie pens and ink used in 
tlie writing ? — Thut circumstance has 
not escaped my mind, but after lo<^king 
at that also, I am still of opinion that it 
was not the same writing 

You stated, that you are principal in- 
spector of the letter of attorney office ; 
in examining letters of attorney in that 
office, IS it not your principal business 
to lo >k at the signature ? — It is. 

Is that your only business ? — No, 
surely not ; that is the priitcipal busi- 
ness. 



What other part of the hand -writ lag 
are you accustomed to examine, besides 
the signature ? — It is necessary forme to 
I'ead over the whole of the letter of at- 
torney, to see that it is correct in all its 
parts, and when so done, to compare the 
signature with any former signature, 
and if it agrees, of course it is admitted ; 
if it does not agree, we have other modes 
of proof, sileb as looking at other signa- 
tures, comparing tlie hand-writing of 
the witnesses, and still other proofs. 

It is expected that the hand-writing iiv 
the body of tKe letter of attorney should 
be written by the person who signs his 
name at the bottom ? — The letters of at- 
torney are almost universally filled up 
by the clerks in the office over ^^hich I 
preside ; the body of the letter of attor- 
ney is uniformly filled up by them. 

Then Is not the comparison of writings 
to which alone your attention is direct>- 
ed, altogether a comparison of signa- 
tures ? — It is. 

Have you, in looking over tlie note, 
obser^ ed that there are no dots to the i's 
in tliat note .' — I have not. 

Have you observed whether there are 
any dots to the i's in the two letters ? — I 
think I have observed dots in some parts 
of the letters. 

Look over the letters again, with a 
view to that circumstance. [The wit- 
ness looked over the letters.] I do not 
observe several, but I do find, In the 
first letter I have looked into, one ; that 
is the letter dated from Weymouth. 

Have you observed but one i, in these 
two letters, with the dot over it ?— 1 
have not observcH more. 

Having adverted to that circumstance, 
do you remain of the same opinion with 
regiu-d to the hand-writing ? — I do not 
think tlii'.t should change my opinion, 
because I think that the ensemble of the 
note appears to me altogetlier a different 
kind of hand. 

You have stated to the Committee^ 
that you looked over these letters and tlie 
note with great attention ; how did it 
happemthat so remarkable acircumstance 
as tliat escaped your attention ? — 1 da 
not at all wonder that such a circum- 
stance as that should escape my atten- 
tion, it is the first time I have ever been 
called upon in this House, however, and 
surrounded as 1 was by gentlemen on 
every side at the time I was examining 
into the letters, as tar as my time and at- 
tention would allow, I do not wonder tha 
that circumstance escaped my attentiorv 



!19 



How long a time were these letters 
under your inspection in the Committee- 
room above stairs ? — I think about an 
Jiour ; but in tlie coui'se of that time, I 
had u great variety of letters to look 
over, of Mrs. Clai-ke's and other per- 
sons, vk'hich I was directed to look at, 
and which 1 did look at, and observed 
the characters with some attention. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

£The witness was again called in.] 

Dou you remember an instance of a 
person endeavouring to forge or imitate 
the hand-writing of another who did not 
put dots to the i s, w) o in that forged or 
imitated paper was accustomed to put 
dots .' — 1 do not exactly recollect any 
circuiVistance about dots of I's, but I have 
refused signatures, and perhaps daily do 
that, which turn out to be forgeries, 
though generally innocent ones, but not 
actually the signature of the pai'tiestliat 
should be there. 

Does the circumstance of there being 
no dots to the i's in the note before you, 
make any diiference in your opinion ? — 
It certainly was a circumstance that 1 
did not advert to, and tlierefore, us far as 
that goes,I certainly think it is of weight, 
but not-suiEcient to alter my opinion. 

In the course of exummining the signa- 
ture of powers of attorney, have you not 
observed that the signature of the same 
persons varies considerably in a short 
period of time ? — I cerjjiiniy have, and 
thai may arise fi-om * variety of circum- 
stances, such as ill health ; a sigi\ai.urc 
made before or afier dinner has freqvient- 
ly been very materially diH'erent, and 
indeed a variety of other circumstances 
would alter the signature materially. 

Have you not .idmiited the validity of 
signatures of the Same person, so varying 
as you have stated, in a greater degree 
than the variation between the writing' 
in the note and the two letters ?--I have 
no doubt but I have, but itwill arise from 
this circumstance, probably, that where 
the signature of tlie constituent differs 
materially we have then the signature of 
two witnesses to look at, and if the, sig- 
nature of cither of those witnesses-should 
be well known to me to be in all jjroba- 
bility atrue signature,! mean a signature 
that passes before me very frequently, 
that would operate in my mind to admit 
the power of attorney, though thete 
migiit be some considerable variation 
between the constituent's signature in 
he one instance and in the other. 



Have you not admitted the validity of 
the hand-writing of those varying sig- 
natures, wliere the witnesses have been 
totally difierenl persons, and totally un-. 
known to you ? — I think 1 have not, be- 
cause that is my particular business to 
attend to, not lo admit any thing that is 
not in itself exactly what it ought to be, 
without such jn-oof before me as should 
enable me to admit it. 

What proportion of the signatures of 
the witnesses to the powers of attorney, 
in the country, are you acquainted with 1 
— I cannot say the proportion of hand- 
writings of witnesses that lam acquaint- 
ed with, but certainly a great number, 
and you will aUow that, when I tell you 
that every day I admit from forty to fifty, 
sixty and a hundred ; hardly any day is 
less than forty,and very often a hundred. 

You must know that powers of attor- 
ney, executed by the same persoi. in ihe 
country, are attested by very different 
witnesses ! — Certainly. 

Do you not depend upon the signature 
of the person who executes the pi wer 
of attorney, much more than upon any 
name of any witness to the execution of 
that power of attorney ?— I certainly clo, 
that is tiie fust object. 

Do you not principally depend upon 
the signature of the person who executes 
the power of attorney, notwithstanding 
the variations in the hand- writing of that 
person ? — I certainly do. 

And you have admitted the validity of 
those signatures with greater variations 
than 3'ou find between the note and the 
two letters ]~-l certainly have, hut col- 
lateral evidence has come in to satisfy 
me of the validity of tlie signatures. 

Do you censider the note as having 
been written in imitation of the hand- 
writing of the letters ! — That was my 
opinion at the time I was examining 
them. 

Is it in the usual and common habit 
of yourself to be called upon for your 
opinion, and to give an opinion upon the 
similarity of hand- writing, where there 
are no signatures of names whatever ?— 
It has very seldom^ happened of late 
years, formerly it was more frequent, 
because of late j'ears 1 have understood 
that such kind of evidence has not been 
admitted in the Courts of law. 

Having stated that you have been 
chiefly conversant with the examination 
of signatures, do you judge of them by 
comparison with other signatures of the 
same person, or a general comparison of 



320 



Uie hancl-^VTiting of the person supposed 
to sign ? — 1 judge of them by a compar- 
ison with other signatures of the same 
person. 

Have you ever seen papers in which 
the signature and tlie other writing in 
those papers, piu-poi-ted to be, and to 
your knowledge were written by the 
same person ? — I have. 

Have you in those cases observed that 
the signatures are in many cases differ- 
ent from the general writing ? — 1 cer- 
tainly have ; and I must acknowledge 
that signatures in general are much easi- 
er to judge of than common lines of writ- 
ing, because signatures have always ap- 
peared to me a set kind of hand, which 
a man takes up, and in general does not 
part with. 

Previously to your ertamination of the 
two letters and the note, had it been in- 
timated to you by any person, and by 
whom, that there was reason to doubt of 
the authenucity of the note ? — I think I 
should answer to that, that 1 read the 
newspaper every evening, and therefore 
I have read all that concerusthisbusiness 
everyevening as constantly as it passed. 

Is the committee to imderstand that 
the first doubt you entertained was by 
what was suggested from reading the 
newspapers ? — I certainly came with no 
prejudice in my mind,, but I came de- 
termined to form my mind from what I 
should sec in the note and in the Ic tters. 

Is the committee to understand, that 
the first doubt you entertained was by 
wh.xl was suggested from reading the 
newspapers ? — 1 think I said thatlcame 
here with no prejudice, but to form my 
mind from what I should find in reading 
over the note and the letters. 

Is the committee to understand, that 
the first doubt you entertained was by 
what was suggested from reading the 
newspapers >— I conceive that 1 might 
reason upon the subject, but certainly I 
came here witli no prejudice whatever. 

Is the committee to understand, that 
the first doubt you entertained was by 
"what was sviggested fi-om reading the 
newspapers ? — I certainly did reason up- 
on the subject in my own mind, but I 
came here with no prejudice whatever. 

Have you carefully examined.both the 
letters, and do you find in any parts of 
either of tfcosc letters any difference in 
the hand-writing ; are both these letters 
exactly in the same character and style 
of hand-writng ?— I did not perceive any 
particular difference in the mode of 



wrfting in those two letters, but that 
they were all written with the same 
kind of freedom except where the ink 
appeared to fail, and that will constantly, 
be the case under such a circumstance. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

[The witness was again called in.] 

Is or is not the difference in the note 
and the letters greater than that whjch 
you have frequently observed between 
acknowledged pieces of hand-writing of 
the same person ? — The difference be- 
tween the note and the letter appears to 
me to arise, taking it altogether^ from 
the neatness and the stiflness of writing, 
which I do not observe in the two letters ; 
as to there being a gi'eater difference be- 
tween the note and the letters, and any 
two sif^atures which I have admitted, I 
really cannot tell how to answer that ; 
the differences in signatures are so very 
frtquent and so various, that I cannot 
well explain myself upon that subject. 

From your habits of business at the* 
Bai.k, huve you more frequent opportu- 
nities of comparing the general hand- 
writing of parties, than persons engaged 
in any mercantile or other counting- 
house in the city of London ? — I am per- 
suaded not, and I have thought myself 
frequently incompetent to such kind of 
examinations, because my constant prac- 
tice has been with respect to signatures 
only. 

You have staliid that you had been 
occupied one hour In examining all tlie 
p.ipers, inclusive of Mrs. Clarke's let- 
ters, what time did you devote to the 
examination of the three letters now in 
qtiestion ? — I think it is probable that I 
might have been from half an hour to 
three quarters on the one, and the rest 
of the time on the various letters of Mrs. 
Clarke, and so on. 

Might not the short note and the two 
letters have been the h.ind-writing of the 
same person, supposing the short note 
written in the morning, and the two 
letters after dinner, or vice versa ? — I 
think that might possibly have been the 
case, but then that written in the after- 
noon would have been much worse than 
that written in the morning. 

If two powers of attorney had been 
presented to you for your examination, 
one in the hand of the letter which was 
acknowledged to be the hand-writing of 
the party who presented it, and the other 
in the hand writing of tlie short note, 
with your observation would youofficiallj. 



I 



321 



fiave refiised the acceptance of that lat- 
ter power of attorney ? — If there had 
been no other circumstances as collateral 
evidence in fiivour of it, I certainly 
should have demurred to the sigi^ature. 
Have you not said, that writings dif- 
ering' as much as these, have ultimately 
turned oat to be genuine r — If I have 
not, I am persuaded they have done so. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

Mr. THOMAS BATEM AN was called 

in, aud examined by the Committee, 

as follows : 

In what business are you ? — In the 
service of the Bank of England. 

In wliat department? — My employment 
IS the examining- powers of attorney in 
the first place, as to the accuracy of them 
and then examining their signature. 

[^The t^vo letters and the note vere 
shewn to the Witness ] Have you exam- 
ined those two letters and that note, for 
the purpose of discovering wiiether they 
sre written by the same person or not ? 
— I have. 

How long have yon been employed in 
the department in which you now are \ 
— Nearly twenty years. 

You are still in that situation ? — I am. 

You state, that you have examined 
these two letters and that note, for the 
purpose of discovering whether they are 
written by the same person ? — I have. 

Look at them now, and tell me whe- 
ther they were in your judgment writ- 
ten by the same person ? — 1 think there 
is a very correspondent similarity. 

In your judgment, is the note written 
by the same person as these letters were 
■written by ? — I can only say that there 
is a very marked similarity. 

Upon examining these letters and the 
note, have you any reason to think tliey 
■were not written by the same person ? 
— I have not any reason to tlunk they 
were not ; I have no reason at all upon 
that subject. 

Upon examining those letters and the 
note, have you any reason to think they 
were not written by the same person ? 
— After what I have said, I think I can- 
not answer that question but in the 
way I have answered it. 

If two powers of attorney came before 
you, signed, one in the cliaracter of the 
note, and the other in the character of 
the letters, would you have passed them 
both as written by the same person ? — I 
think I should. 
f;The witness was directed to withdraw. 



Mr. THOMAS BLISS was called in, 

and examined by the Committee, as 

follows : 

What is your employment ? — One of 
the Investigators of the Bank ofEngland. 

What is your busmess in that depart- 
ment \ — To examine and inspect int» 
forged notes. 

How long have you been in that situ- 
ation ? — About fifteen years. 

Is it your business to discover wheth- 
er the signature to those notes are or are 
not genuine ? — II is. 

Do you examine any thing but the 
signatui'es to those notes ? — The whole 
of the notes ; every writing on the note ; 
it leads to many other things, the paper, 
the writing, the engraving, and the 
whole of the notes. 

Do you examine any writing upon the 
notes, except the signature ? — Yes.very 
frequently. 

What part of tliose bills which you 
examine is written except the signature? 
— The date and number. 

Do you examine Bank Post Bills as 
well as Bank-notes ? — No. 

Then there is notliing of writing upon 
those bills you examine, but the dates, 
the numbers and the signatures ? — No- 
thing else, except it might be writing 
by the public, at times, upon the notes, 

\_The two letters and the note were 
shewn to the Witticss.'] Have you exam- 
ined tlie two letters and the note now 
put into your hand, for tiie purpose of 
discovering- whether they are written 
by the same person or not ? — I have. 

According to the best judgment you 
can form, are they or are they not writ- 
ten by the same person ! — I should sup- 
pose they were. 

Have you anydoubt upon that subject at 
all ? — From letters that I saw afterwards 
1 have some doubt ; but if I had not seen 
any other letters, from tiie appearance 
of those I should have had no doubt. 

What letters did you see afterwards ? 
— I saw different letters on the table 
where I examined these, that I was de- 
sired to look at, from, 1 believe. No. 31 
to 40 or 41. 

Is the Committee to understand,that, 
from the observation you have made up- 
on the letters and the note you have 
just seen, you have no doubt but they 
were written by the same person ? — I 
did not say I had no doubt, I said 1 
thonght they were. 

Have you or have you not any doubt 
upon that subject, aUudii% to the three 



letters you have just seen ?— From the 
letters that I saw since, many of them 
seeming to differ, I have some doubt of 
it. 

Have you or have you not any doubt 
upon that subject, alluding to the three 
letters you have just seen ? — From the 
examination of the three letters, which 
I looked at as carefully as possible, I 
thought they were all of one hand- writ- 
ing 

Whose letters do you imagine tho:;e 
were that you saw besides ?--Thei"e were 
papers numbered as far as 40 upon the 
table ; I went in at a late honr , only one 
being allowed to go in at a time, I look- 
ed only at ten, from 30 to 40 or 41 ; 
and I understood from thosf letters they 
were written by Mrs. Clarke. 

Explain how the comparison of- Mrs. 
Clarke's letters induced you to doubt 
about the similarity of tlie three others ? 
—After I had been desired to look at 
two letters, and the other, to compare 
the hand-writing-, I vras desired to look 
at the other letters, and compare them 
with the first two letters, also. 

How did that comparison alter the 
opinion you had before formed ? — Be- 
cause, tliougli they were written by one 
person, yet they differed in the writing ; 
there were some very plain to read, and 
some more difficviltto read ; some writ- 
ten rather larger, and some rather small- 
er. 

I understand you to have stated, that 
the two letters and the note appeared to 
you at first to be of the same writing ? — 
I did say so. 

Therefore, though these were written 
at diflerent times, there appeared no 
great difference in the writing ?— There 
did not. 

How was that opinion altered by find- 
ing that another ]>erson did at different 
times write different hands ? — From the 
difference of that hund-wi'iting ; some of 
them I compared, in some measure bore 
a semblance to the first two letters ? if I 
Jiad seen no oliiers tlian the firsttwo and 
the note produced to me, I should have 
been clearly of opinion, without any 
doubt, that they had been the samepei-- 
son's writing ; but I explain now, from 
tlie ultimate judgment of what 1 looked 
at, which impressed upon me this, that 
the letters tliat I saw, thougli they were 
one person's writing, the writingdiffisrcd 
materially, some very snudl and some 
larger, and from tlie very free easy run- 
uing hand, some seem so exactly alike. 



and some different, that it would be 
doubtful to judge of thai persons writ- 
ing at all times, whether it was her 
writing or not. 

Is it from those letters differing 
amongst themselves, or from some of 
them agreeing with the two letters now 
shewn to you, that your doubt arises .' — 
It is from some of those letters being 
differently written of themselves, and 
some of them having a small semblance 
of the other writing. 

Did those letters most resemble ilie 
two letters or tiie note ? — One oi tvru of 
the letters resembled the two letters 
and the note. 

Is it from that resemblance that you 
doubt now that the two letters and the 
note were of the same hand-writing ?— < 
The difference amongst themselves 
would be the only reason thai would 
create any doubt in my mind. 

You have said, that some of those let- 
ters were in a large and some in a small 
hand, and yet j'ou suppose them to be 
the writing of the same person ? — 1 un- 
derstood that they were the writing, 
and thought that they were the writing 
of the same person. 

Is not the note in a smaller hand than 
the letters ? — I think, as near as possi- i 
ble, the major part of it is the same siz« I; 
as the letters. " 

Did you perceive any similarity be- 
tween the hand-wriiing of any of the let- 
ters last shewn to you from 30 to 40, and 
the note ? — There were one or two of 
the letters that I thought bore a sem- 
blance of of tlie two letters and the note. 

Is that the circumstance which led 
you to doubt at last whether the two let- 
ters and the note were written by the 
same person ? — It certainly was. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

Brigadier General CLAVERING 
having sent a letter to the Chair- 
man, requesting that he might 
be called to explain his evidence ; 
he was called in, and examined 
by the Committee, as follows : 
What part of the evidence, which you 
gave on a former night, do you wish 
now to explain ? — There is a part of the 
evidence that I gave on a former night, 
that I wish to explain. But I request 
permission, before I explain it, to state 
why I requested to come forward this 
evening : It was intimated to me yester- 
day, by a friend of mine, and otlier 
members of tlie Committee, that an idea 



S23 



UaJ gone forth, that part of the evidence 
I gave on a former evening was not cor- 
rect ; I certainly staned at the idea, 
having been thoroughly satisfied in my 
own mind that it was my intention to 
state every thing to the very best of my 
knowledge. Yesterday, however, I re- 
lerred to the minutes, which before I 
had not seen, and it did certainly appear 
tome that the answers I had given to the 
questions, were not perfectly such as 1 
would have given, had I clearly compre- 
hended titose questions ; and however 
extrordinary this may appeartotheCom- 
mittee, 1 pledge my sacred honour and 
word the mistake was pei'fectly involun- 
tary on my part, and it was my entire in- 
tention, as well as my wish, to give every 
information in my power, and 1 should feel 
myself particularly honoured and flatter- 
ed by as many questions as the Commit- 
tee shall think it proper to put to me up- 
on this occasion. VVith the permission 
of the Committee, I will now refer to 
tl»e questions put to me on the former 
occasion. In page 2 53, the question was 
— " Had you any communication what- 
evei" on the subject of army promotions 
with Mrs. Clarke ;" My reply was, " I 
never proposed any conversation of that 
kind, nor do I recollect any ever having 
existed, except at the period 1 before 
alluded to, when she requested I woidd 
recommend to the consideration of ihe 
Duke of York Lieutenant Sumner of the 
20th regiment." Itis perfectly clear now 
to me, that by the addition of the word 
' whatever' after ' communication,' an 
epistolary correspondence was intended, 
but I certainly understood it to be a per- 
sonal communication or conversation, 
for, in the two preceding questions, the 
idea of conversation and convcisation 
only had been included ; and in the fol- 
lowing question likewise it appears also 
evident to me, that that was the idea of 
the honourable member who proposed 
it, that he meant conversation, for the 
question is, " Had you any incidental 
conversation with Mrs. Clarke tipon that 
subject ?" and my reply was, "A period 
of so many years having elapsed since 
that time, it is imp(;ssible to speak posi- 
tively and accurately to a question so 
close as that, but, to the best of ray be- 
lief, I do not think 1 had." The next 
question, and tlie reply which I wish to 
advert to, is tliis : — " Do you, of your 
own knowledge, know that Mrs. Clarke 
used her influence in favour of any per- 



son whatever in the army with the Com- 
mander in Chief ;" My reply was, " 1 
do not." 1 certainly did misunderstand 
that question altogether, and that I did 
misunderstaiKl it, I have the most posi- 
tive proof for stating to the Committee • 
one ot the first conversations I had, af- 
ter withdrawing fi-om this bar, was with 
a noble relative of mine, a peer of tlie 
upper house, in which 1 stated (and he 
has authorized me to sa\, if it is neces- 
sary, he will confirm the same) tliat my 
surprise was, that a question liad been 
put to me which I conceived concerned 
others, and that my regret was, that the 
question had not been put which did im- 
mediately concern myself, tor if it had, 
I should have given that reply which in 
my own mind, conveyed a thorough con- 
viction that Mrs. Clarke never possessed 
that influence over the mindof his Royal 
Highness which it is sup])Osed that she 
possessed. I have nothing further ta 
add upon that immediate head. 

[The five letters delivered in by 

Mrs. Clarke on the loth instant, 

were shown to Gen. Clavering.] 

General Ccavering. They are my 

hand-writing. 

On the former examination, yon were 
asked wi.etiier you had ever known of 
any person who had asked Mrs. Clarke 
to use her influence with theComjnander 
in Chief; to which you answered posi- 
tively, that yon had not. When yoii 
were asked whether you knew of any 
transaction of that nature, you say yon 
understood that any transaction in which 
you might have been engaged was ex- 
cluded in the intention of the person 
asking that question ? — I certainly did, 
both to that question and to the following 
one, for I conceived tiiat my answer to 
the third question from the bottom, wa» 
an answer which applied equally to the. 
two last. 

Did you or did you not ever, in wTiting 
or otherwise, ask Mrs. Clarke to use her 
influence in your behalf with the Cora- 
mander in Chief ? — I did. 

Had it any efl'ect ? — I believe not. 
Did you obtain wliat you asked for ?— 
I made two applications ; 1 did not ob.- 
tain the first, and I believe that what 
Wild granted me. in the second, was not. 
through her influence. 

Was it granted to you r— Will you 
permit me to answer that question not 
immediately directly ; it was granted, but 
it must equally have been granetd, aiiA 



S24 



it could not have been denied me, if 
such application has not been made. 

Why then did you apply through Mrs. 
Clarke ? — Were I permitted to state the 
circumstances, I believe it would be bet- 
ter understood ilian by any other answer. 
In the year 1803, 1 was placed upon the 
staff as an inspecting field officer,as col- 
onel. In the year 1804, the government 
thought proper to raise all the officers of 
the rank of colonel to that of brigadier- 
general : I received a notification from 
the war-office, that I was appointed a 
brigadier-general, and about a fortnight 
afterwards I received a second notifica- 
tion to say, that my appointment was not 
to be that of brigadier-general but brig- 
adier-colonel. The circumstance appear- 
ed to me so extraordinary, that I wrote 
upon that occasion to Mrs Clarke, to 
know if she coidd discover why the al- 
teration was made from brigadier-gene- 
ral to brigadier-colonel ; she i-eplied to 
me, tliat ujwn inquiry it was fovmd to be 
a mistake, and that all the brigadier- 
generals wlio had been previously ap- 
pointed and afterwards removed, were 
to be restored to their first appointments 
of brigadier generals ; and the reason 
was evident, it was supposed that the 
militia and the volunteers might jiossi- 
bly be assembled to act together ; by the 
militia act, no colonel in the army can 
command a colonel of militia, conse- 
quently, our appointment to the situa- 
tion of brigadier-colonels would not 
have had the efiect it was intended to 
have had ; therefore, we were again ap- 
pointed to our original situation, that of 
brigadier-generals. 

How came you to apply for an inter- 
pretation of any mistake, or any extra- 
ordinary circumslance, to Mrs. Clarke, 
and not to the office of the Commander 
in Chief? — Because, according to the 
custom of all offices, the persons hold- 
ing the ostensible situations could not 
have given me the informuiion that I 
desired, or rather, they would have been 
reprehensible if "they had given it me, 
for in all probability, though tiiey miglit 
have been acquainted with the reasons, 
\hey would not have been justified in 
declaring them. 

What secret source of information, 
■vvhicli it would have been reprehensible 
for tlie ostensible oliicers in the office of 
the Commander in Chief to have given, 
did }ou supj)ose Mrs. Clarke xo have ? — 
I certainly did suppose that Mrs.Olarke 
was informed of what was passing in the 



war-office ; I mean generally in the of- 
fice of the Commander in Chief, and 
therefore I had reason to suppose that 
she would {five me every information 
that was in her power. 

What was the reason ? — Because on 
any former occasion, as far as I can at 
present recollect, she had been always 
extremely communicative. 

From whom did you know or suppose 
that she had derived that communica- 
tion which she was so communicative of 
to jou ? — Certainly from his Royal High- 
ness the Commander in Chief. 

How do you reconcile the answer yea 
have last given to the answer you before 
gave ; you supposed Mrs. Clai'ke to have 
no infliience with the Commander in 
Chief ?— The reply that 1 before gave, 
went to Mrs. Clarke's influence over his 
Royal Highness in the distribution of 
military promotion. 

Of the two applications which you 
state yourself to have made through Mrs. 
Clarke, which was the one that was suc- 
cessful, whether by her influence or oth- 
erwise ? — If I recollect rightly, I had be- 
fore the honour of stating, that the rank 
of brigadier-general was restored to me, 
which I could not have been denied ; it 
was granted to all the colonels of tlie 
regular service of the year 1802, in 
which brevet I was, with others both 
above and below me, and consequently 
it could not have been denied we with- 
out a marked stigma. 

Which of the two applications, which 
you have stated yoiu'self to have made 
through Mrs.Clarke,was successful, the 
first or the second, whether through her 
means or any other ? — 1 certainly have 
to apologize to tlie committee, if I have 
not made myself understood. 

What were the two things which you 
appliedfor!-The first circumstance upon 
which I wrote to her was, or rather a 
letter was written, which I was accessary 
to, it is immaterial whether I wrote it or 
not, was relative to the raisinga regiment. 
I was given to understand that she had 
very great influence in military promo- 
tions, and Iconceived,therefore,it would 
be a fair speculation to try whether that 
influence did exist or not ; a letter was 
accordingly written toher,stating,that m 
case she obtained me permission to raise 
a regiment, she should recceive 1000/. 
She wrote me, in reply, that his Royal 
Highness would nothear of it, or scoxited 
the idea, or words to that effect ; and 
consequentlyfromthatanswer, it was my 



325 



decided opinion that she did not possess 
an influence over his Ho) ul Highness in 
the distribution of military promotion. 

Did you in point of fact obtain leave 
to raise that regiment ? — I did not. 

Did you make a second application, 
and what was that application for?- The 
other application, if it may be so termed, 
was not for any promotion, but to know 
the reason why, after having been ap- 
pointed a brigadier-general,! was reduc- 
ed to the situation ofa brigadier- colonel. 

Have you ever made any other appli- 
cation to Mrs. Clarke for information, for 
promotion, fir exchange, or for any oth- 
er thing ? — I cannot bring to my recol- 
lection that I ever have made any other 
application to her upon any one of those 
subjects mentioned, but if any of the 
Hon. Gentlemen here can give me the 
smallest clue to guide my recollection, 
I shall be extremely happy to give every 
information in my power. 

Being convinced in the first Instance 
by the Duke of York's having, as Mrs. 
Clarke informed you, scouted the idea of 
yourbcingpermittedto raise a regiment, 
for •vhich yoti had made an offer of 
lOOOl. and having from thence inferred 
that she had no influence ; how came 
you to make any second application to 
her ? — If 1 am correct, I before stated 
that I was satisfied from his Royal High- 
ness' answer to her, if such was his an- 
swer, that she did not possess any influ- 
ence over him in the point of military 
promotion ; that his Royal Highness 
might have permitted her to talk upon 
military subjects, but that as to military 
promotions she had no influence. 

Do you know that at the time you 
made application through Mrs. Clarke 
for leave to raise a regiment, any officer 
received that permission which was re- 
fused to you ? — If my memory serves me 
right, there were three or four young 
regiments raised at that time in Ireland, 
but not in this country. 

Were they raised upon the same terms 
with regard to the payment of money, 
as vhe tender made by you for raising 
your men ? — They v/ere not ; my propo- 
sal was, as far as I can recollect, for I 
had forgotten that till I saw it in the ev- 
idence, my proposal was to raise them 
from the militia ; the regiments in Ire- 
land were raised with a bounty. 

From whom did you receive the infor- 
mation first, that Mrs. Clarke had influ- 
ence with the Commander in Chief rela- 
tive to military promotion.?, which in- 
duced you to have the first letter writ- 
42 



ten, or to connive at the writing of the 
first letter to Mrs. Clarke, in order to 
obtain that influence in your favour ? — 
My information upon tlfat head was 
merely report, but the letter alluded to 
was suggested to me. 

Had you ever any other than a written 
communication with Mrs. Clarke upon 
the subject of your own promotion ? — 
To the best of my opinion, I had not ; 
the reason why 1 think so is, that at that 
time I was stationed at a distance from 
London. 

Is the committee to understand you 
to have said, that if you had applied to 
the war-office for information, after its 
having been notified that you were a 
brigadier-general, and your being put 
backto the rank which youcall brigadier- 
colonel, you would not have obtained 
that information ? — I do not think that I 
should, nor should 1 have made the ap- 
plication, conceiving that such applica- 
cation would have been improper. 

Why then do you suppose you could 
obtain information respecting military 
arrangements from Mrs. Clarke, which 
you could not obtain from the war-of- 
fice ? — Because I see a considerable de- 
gree of distinction between making ap- 
plication for information to a lady of the 
description that she then was, and mak- 
ing it to those official persons, who would 
not have been justified in giving me the 
information I desired. 

What reason had you for thinking that 
Mrs. Clarke had information of what 
was passing at the war office ; which 
information, would have been refused to 
military officers regularly applying ?— 
Because I was of opinion that by her 
influence over the Commander in Chief, 
which she described herself to me to 
possess, she could obtain any informa- 
tion of that description. 

How is the Committee to reconcile 
that declaration with that which you. 
have made.that you did not then believe 
her to have any influence over the Com- 
mander in Chief .'—If I am correct I be- 
fore said, that the influence she possess- 
ed over his Royal Highness the Com- 
mander in Chief did not go to the distri- 
bution of military promotions. 

Did it then go to the obtaining informa- 
tion of regulations in the war-office, which 
regulations wei-e withheld from public 
notice ? — As she always gave me to un- 
derstand she could procure almost any 
promotion whatever, I conceived that 
the only way to obtain that which I 
wished for was by application to her. 



U20 



Did you, in peiiit of fact, obtain tlie 
iTifdrmation you sought for through her 
means ? — I did hot ; the information that 
I received was^ as far as I can recollect, 
that tlierfi' had been a mistake in remov- 
ing' us from the situation of brigadier- 
generals to brigadier colonels, and tliat 
that mistake was shortly to be rectified. 

Was that or not the information you 
did wish to obtain ?— It was not the in- 
formation lliat I wished to obtain, if I 
am perfectly correct, because I do not 
think she stated tlie n-hson why we were 
removed from the situation of brigadier 
generals to brigadier colonels. 1 hope 
the honourable Committee will excuse 
any mistake I may make in this, for 
there has a period of several years 
elapsed since this correspomlence, and 
1 may fall into an error : it is my en- 
deavor to give evei-y information in my 
power. 

Look at the letter in the clerk's hand, 
and read it. [_A letter dated the llfA of 
November, 1804, <ivas shotun to General 
Ctavenng.'] You there express your 
tlianks to Mrs. Clarke for her attempts 
to serve you, thou",'! unsuccessful. — I 
am of o|)inion that must have alluded to 
her not being able to obtain me permis- 
sion to raise a regiment. 

You speak further on the coming to 
town 5 when you and Mrs. Clarke met, 
did any conversation arise as to military 
promotions, or military matters ? — It is 
above five years since I wrote this letter, 
and I am sure it is impossible for any 
l)erson whatever to recollect :uiy conver- 
sation of so trivial a nature atler so long 
a period. 

You have positively stated in your 
former examination, that you never had 
any conversation ; you have referred the 
explan.ation which you wished to give to 
the Committee to-night.tothe difference 
between communication and conversa- 
tion, and that it was conversation you 
understood the question to refer to ; do 
you now adhere to the answer of the 
former night, that you never h.-\d any 
conversation with Mrs. Clarke on the 
subject of military promotions, or mili- 
tary matters ?— I do not recollect liaving 
had any conversation with her \\\wn the 
subject ; it is possible that something 
tending to it in the course of conversa- 
tion might have been alluded to, but at 
this(lis:ance oftime I cannot charge my 
mem<,.y with it. 

Having stated, tliat in the original ap- 



plication to Mrs. Claikc you profi'erci 
iier tlie sum of 1000/. to obtain that 
which you wished at tlie time ; did you 
ever, on any other occasion, make her 
an offer of money, or any valuable con- 
sideration of any kind, for the purp s* 
of obtaining her supposed influence with 
theCommander inChief ? — I am positive 
I never did. 

Did you ever, without making any pre- 
vious offer, make her any pecuniary re- 
compence, or give her any valuable con- 
sideration for any service she mighthave 
done vou, or endeavoured to do you, with 
theCommander in Chief ?--I never gave 
her any thing in my life, unless it might 
be accidentally ; being in the room when 
the milliner brought her a shawl, I told 
the milliner she might call upon me for 
the p.iyment of it. 

I understood you to say, tliat you con- 
sider Mrs. Clarke to have very little, if 
any influence with the Commander in 
Chief, on military promotions ? — Yes. 

Do you found your opinion on the re. 
fusal to allow you to raise a regiment, or 
have you any other reason for that opin- 
i<m ? — I ground my opinion upon ^ly 
own case, and also conversation witli 
various military officers upon the subject ; 
for though various reports have gone 
forth to the prejudice of his Royal High- 
ness, upon that subject, I never heard 
of any one case that could be brought 
home, nor do I believe there is any such 
case. 

Did you ever apply to Mrs.Clai-ke, by 
letter or otherwise, to get you put upon 
the staff" ? — I was placed upon the staff 
xipon the 24th otSeptember, 1803, as the 
Gazette of that date will show ; and his 
Royal Highness' first acquaintance with 
Mrs. Clarke did uot commence till four 
months afterwards, in the month of j an - 
uai-y 1804. 

Did you not write a letter to the At- 
torney General, desiring that you might 
be examined at the bar of this Committee 
upon this subject ? — I did, and I should 
be extremely happy to state tlie reasoB 
why I wTote that letter. 

Acknow edging as you have done, that 
you have written letters to Mrs. Clarke 
upon the subject of military promotions, 
and also have had conversations with her 
upon that subject, state with what view 
you wrote that letter to the Attorney 
General ' — About a daj- or two after tliis 
inquiry commenced, I perceived in tlie,^ 
public papers tiiat my name had bec» 



527 



introduced, and, apprehensive that his 
Royal Highness might suppose that I had 
been engaged in any improper miUtary 
transactions, I went down to the Horse- 
Guards, to explain the transaction to 
Lieutenant Colonel Gordon ; Colonel 
Gordon did not see me, but referred me 
to Mr. Lowten. 1 called upon Mr. Low- 
ten, and he put various questions tome; 
and after my replying to those questions, 
he told me it would be necessary for me 
to go dowri to the House to be examin- 
ed. . I replied to him, that was what I 
should wisli particularly to avoid ; but 
that ii he stated absolutely it was neces- 
aary, I would certamly attend, but that 
it was the farthest from my wish When 
I did come down here, it wus deemed 
Tight I should write a letter to the At- 
torney General, and accordingly such 
letter was written, and I stated in it, 
that I appeared here by Mr. Lowien's 
desire. After reading that letter to Mr. 
Lowten and two otlier gentlemen who 
were present, it was observed by one of 
them, that Mr. Lowten's name should 
not appear, in cuiisequence of his bemg 
agent for his Royal H'ghness, conse- 
quently Mr. Lowten's name was ex- 
punged ; and therefore it appeared I 
was a voluntary witness upon this occa- 
sion, whereas I was not so, but came 
forward at Miv Lowten's desire. 

Why, after thee^idence you have given 
here before theConiraittee.did you write 
to the Attorney General, with a view of 
shewing you knew nothing at all about 
these transactions ? — The honourable 
member who puts that question is under 
u mistake ; 1 never wrote such a letter. 

With what view did you write the let- 
ter to the Attorney General ; and why, 
after having written that letter to the 
Attorney General, oflering to do away 
the evidence of Mrs. Clarke, do you 
come to give the evidence which you 
have given at the bar of this Committee J 
— 1 am very sorry to say 1 do not com- 
prehend the question. 

With what view did you write that let- 
ter to the Attorney General ?— Mr.Low- 
ten stated to me, that he conceived my 
evidence would be of considerable conse- 
quence in this House ; and therefore, as 
it was absolutely necessary that I should 
be introduced to this House, a letter was 
written to the Attorney General, as the 
best mode of bringing me forward. 

Did you inform Mr. Lowten of all your 
Vansactions with Mrs. Clarke at the 



time Mr.Lowten gave you that advice 2 
—1 did not, of all of them. 

It stands upon the Minutes of the Ev- 
idence, that " Brigadier Gent. nu Clav<L r- 
♦' ing having stated to a member of the 
" House tiuit he was desirous of being 
" examinedjBrigadierGencralClavering 
" was called in, and examined by the 
" Committee as follows : Have you sent 
" a letter to me (namely, the Attorney 
" General) this evening ! I did so. Dc- 
" siring that you might be examined ? I 
" did so." 1 understand that you pre- 
sented yourself as a voluntary witness ; 
you slate now, that you were unwilling 
to be examined, but were desired byMr. 
Lowten to be examined ; do you mean 
to slate that you were a voluntary or an 
involuntary witness at this bar? — 1 have 
no objection to state, that it is the last 
wish of my heart to be examined at this 
bar. Mr. Lowien stated, it was ex- 
tremely desirable that I should be ex; m- 
ined, and therefore I acceded ; and I 
apprehended t lie distinction between a 
voluntary and an involuntai} wimtss to 
consist in this, thai I was not summon- 
ed to attend at the bar. 

Did Mr.Lowten represent to you what 
his reason was for wishing you to put 
yourself forward, instead of a sumni..ns 
being issued to you in the visual w;Ly ? — 
He did not state any thing upon that 
subject. 

For what purpose did you go down to 
the Horse Guanis, and afterwards go to 
Mr. Lowien ? — I was anxious to remove 
from the mind of Lieutenant Colonel 
Gordon any idea that I had been con- 
cerned in any traffic in commissions, as 
appeared in the newspapers. Colonel 
Gordon refused to see me*, and referred 
me to Mr. Lowten. 

Were you desirous to do away that 
impression from the mind of Col. Gordon 
at the time you recollected that you had 
oil'ered that 1000/. for a commission ? — 
I was desirousofren\ovingfronihismind 
any unfavourable impression that nnght 
have occurred frofft reading the reports 
of what had passed in this CommiUee. 

Were you desirous of doing so by stat- 
ing the true state of the facts to Colonel 
Gordon, or concealing it ? — It was my 
intention to have stated the fact which 
was alluded to in the preceding evening, 
in which my name was brought forward, 
and that was relating to Lieutenant 
Sumner. 
Was it for the purpose of contradicting 



•328 



tliat fact, that you went to Colonel Gor- 
don ? — It was for llie purpose of explain- 
ing' the mode in wliicli my name came to 
be introduced by Mrs. Clarke, in the 
transaction in which Lieutenant Sum- 
ner's name was brought forward. 

Did you mention to Mr. Lowten thi.s 
transaction, of the offer of the lOOOl. to 
Mrs. Clarke ? — I believe I did not ; but 
I sliould have had no scruple in doing 
it, for I had mentioned to a thousand 
persons before. 

Are you sure you did not mention it 
to Mr. Low eii ? — I think I did not. 

Were yini appointed a brigadier-gen- 
eral ill a District, after having been In- 
specting Field Officer of a District ? — I 
was continued in the District to which 
I was originally appointed. 

Had you the rankof urigadier-gener- 
al, after having been colonel or lieuten- 
ant colonel inspecting field officer ? — I 
was promoted in common with all the 
officers of tlie same rank with myself at 
the same time. 

Did you apply to Mrs. Clarke upon 
the subject of tliat promotion, directly 
or indirectly, by letter or in conversa- 
tion ? — 1 am quite certain that I did not 
apply to her upon it ; and I am the more 
certain, because I recollect that the first 
information I received of any of the brig- 
adier general* being to be appointed, 
was about a mi)nth before it became 
public, and that was from her. 

Was that information communicated 
to you privately, as a secret ? — It was 
communicated by letter, but no secrecy 
enjoinedfto the best of my opinion. 
£The witness was directed to witiidraw. 

CHARLES GHEENWOOD, Esquire, 

was called in. 

Examined by the Cominittee. 

Is there any part of jour evidence, 
respecting the appointment of Mr. El- 
dertou which you now wish to correct ? 
—Yes. 

Slate what that part of your evidence 
is. — I there mentioncfrsome unfavoura- 
ble reports which I liad heard of him, 
as having heard of them before the ap- 
pointment look place ; it now appears, 
upon referring to the transactions of 
that period, that those reports wei'e not 
received till after the appointment had 
taken place. 

Is there any other part of your evi- 
dence on that subject wliich you wish to 
correct ? — No. 
[The witness was directed lo withdraw. 



Colonel GORDON was called in. 

Examined by the Com,niittee. 

Do you recollect the date of Colonel 
Clinton's leaving the office of Public 
Secretary to his Royal Highness the 
Commander in Chief, and of your suc- 
ceeding to him ? — It was on the 26lb of 
July 1804. 

On the 2<Jth of July, had the name of 
Captain Tonyn been sent to his Majesty 
for a promotion lo a Majority ? — No, it 
had not. 

Then, if any person could state at that 
time that Captain Tonyn Wjuld appear 
in the Gazette of the following Satur- 
day, thai person must have been either 
entirely ignorant of the course of office, 
or must have intended to deceive the 
person to whom such information was 
given ? — I should suppose so. 

In point of fact, would it have been 
possible in the course of oflice, between 
the Thursday and the Saturday, to have 
received liis Majesty's pleasure respect- 
3ng tiiat promotion ? — It would certainly 
have been possible to have received his 
Majesty's pleasure on the Thursday or 
the Friday, supposing the thing to have 
been so settled. 

In the usual course of office could that 
have taken place ? — Supposing the thing 
to have been settled, it might certainly 
have been so. 

On what day was Captain Tonyn's 
name sent in to the King for promotion ? 
— I have not got the documents with me, 
but I think upon recollection, it was the 
9th of August. 

Then he did not appear in the Ga- 
zette either on Saturday the 28th, or of 
the Saturday following ? — No, I think 
not, but I have not got the documents 
at hand. 

[The following entry was read from the 
Gazette of the 18th August, 1804, 
page 999 : 

•' 31sl Regiment of Foot, Captain 
Alexander Leilh, to be Major. — Cap- 
tain George Augustus Tonyn, from 
the 48th Foot, to be Major."] 

You will observe that Major Leith's 
commission is dated the 1st of August, 
and Captain Tonyn's the 2d ; can you 
state the reason of Major Leith's being 
dated the day preceding I — They were 
both promoted at the same time, and 
Major Leith had been the eldest Cap- 
tain. 

You have stated, that the King's ap- 
px-obation to Major Tonyn's promotion 



329 



was obtained on the 9th of August, he 
appears in tlie Gazette of the 18th ; in 
case the Commander in Chief liad 
thought it right on the 16th of August 
to stop tlie publication of Major Tonyn's 
promotion in the Gazette of Saturday 
the 18th, he could have done it ? — Yes, 
he might. 

Is there any instance in point of fact, 
of the Commander in Chief directing the 
publication of promotions in the Gazette 
to be stopped, after they have received 
the approbation of liis Majesty ? — Yes, 
very frequently casualties happen be- 
tween the periods of gazetting, and the 
periods of submitting them to the King ; 
consequently such appointments are not 
gazetted. 

Then if the Commander in Chief had 
sent an order on the I6th to you, or to 
the proper department, to stop the pub- 
lication of Major Tonyn's promotion, it 
would not have appeared in the Gazette 
of the 18th ? — If the Commander in 
Chief had sent sucii an order, it probably 
would ha\ e been suspended. 

In point of fact, do yoviknow whether 
anv such order was sent ? — I think it 
was impossible, I should have had some 
recollection of it, and I cannot find any 
trace of such a thing. 

And it was not suspended ? — It was not 
it was gazetted among otlier promotions. 

Do you know where the Commander 
in Chief was on Thtu'sday the 16th of 
August 1804 ? — I cannot take upon my- 
self to say positively wiiere he was ; but 
the 16th of August is his birth-day, and 
he commonly passes it at Oatlands. 

Do yovi know whether he was at the 
Horse-Guards on the following day, the 
17th of August ? — I cannot take upon 
myself to say, but it is a point very easi- 
ly ascertained by reference to the dates ; 
1 have not the psipers at hand to answer 
so precisely as that. 

Da you recollect the Commander in 
Chief applying to you, either verbally or 
in writing, between tlie 16th and the 
18th of August to ask you whether he 
was in time to stop the publication of 
Major Tonyn's promotion ? — No ; I have 
no such recollection. 

Can you inform the Committee, whe- 
ther any officer of the name of Aslett 
is to be found in the Army List for that 
time ? — I have caused reference to be 
made to the Army List, and no such 
person's name could be found in the list 
of the army. 



Was there any Major of the name of 
Bligh promoted about that time ? — I 
have caused a similar reference to be 
made to the Army List 'nd I can find 
no such person. 

Do you know whether an officer of 
the name of Bligh was removed about 
that time from the half-pay of the 54th 
foot, to be Lieutenant Colonel of the 
14th ? — On inquiry, the only officer of 
the name of Bligh who was removed 
about that time, was the Honourable 
Colonel Bligh, who was removed from, 
the half-pay to a regiment of foot. 

What was liis standing as Lieutenant 
Colonel in the army ? — I really do not 
know, but a reference to the Army List 
will point it out at once. 

Then, in point of fact, there was no 
Major of the name of Aslett, and no 
Major of the name of Bligli, promoted 
or removed about that period .' — None 
that 1 know of. 

Do you know of any officer of the 
name of Bacon, in the army ? — There is 
a Captain Bacon in the army, but I have 
no knowledge of him whatever. 

Did he apply for promotion about the 
period of July, August, or September, 
1804 ?— Not that I know of. 

Do you know any thing of an officer 
of the name of Spcdding ? — I find' upon 
inquiry there was a Captain Spedding 
in the 48th regiment at tliat period. 

Are there any documents in your of- 
fice, respecting this officer's applications 
for promotion ? — I think I have the doc- 
uments here. It appears Jie applied for 
promotion, and was lefused; and he then 
applied to go upon the half-pay, wliich 
was granted, and he is now, I think, up- 
on half-pay. 
j^Col Gordon delivered in the papers.3 
" In August 1804, Captain Spedding, 
of the 48th Reg. appl-ed for promo- 
tion (No. 1,) and as he, was known 
to Sir Alured Clarke, an applica- 
tion was made to the latter for the 
character of Capt. S. by whose an- 
swer (No 2) it appears that Sir A.C. 
does not recollect such an officer. 
"In Nov. 1804, Capt. Spedding applied 
to be placed upon half-pay (No. 4) 
on account of a large family, and 
an intricacy which had recently 
occiined in his private affairs."* 

* Capt. Spedding luas accordingly placed 
on half pay, 23d I^ov. 1804. 



230 



No. i. 34 

The Memorial of Capt. John Spedding, 

48th Reg. 

28th August, 1«04. 

Not to be noted until a fair report shall 

be received from the Regt. 

•* To his Royal Highness Field- Marshal, 

the Duke of York, Commander in 

Chief. 
" The Memorial of John Spedding,Cap- 

tain in the 48th Regiment of Foot, 
" Humbly sheweth, 

" That your Memorialist is a Captain 
©f 1798 — has served the greatest part of 
his military life in the West-Indies, and 
was never absent during the whole pe- 
riod from duty. 

*' Your Memorialist most humbly prays 
that yoiir Royal Highness may be graci- 
cusly pleased to grant him promotion. 

*• And your Royal Highness' Memo- 
rialist, as in duty bound, will ever 
pray." 
" August 28th, 1804." 

" Enquire of Sir Alured Clarke, of the 
character of this officei-, to whom 
it is understood he is known." 

No. 2. 62 

General Sir A. Clarke. 

7th. Nov. 1808. 

(Put by.; 

*' Rhual, near Chester, 
«• Sir, Nov. 7. 1804." 

" Your letter of the 29th ultimo di- 
T:'Cted to my house in town was forward- 
ed lo this place ; but having been absent 
for a few d.iys, I did not receive it till 
yesterday, which will.l hope, sufficiently 
•iccount for my not returning an e.irlier 
reply to his Royal Highness' commands. 
— I cannot at present call to my recollec- 
tion having had any personal acquaint- 
ance with Ciptain Jolin Spedding of the 
48th regiment, and consequently cannot 
give the Commander in Chief tlie infor- 
mation he requires, or offer any opinion 
as to that officer's merit. I have been 
so many years employed abroad on the 
public service, and in such various pai'ts 
of the world, that it is not impossible 
but Captain Spedding may have served 
imder my orders ; and 1 should be ex- 
tremely sorry if my immediate- want of 
recollection of ii should operate to his 
disadvantage ; if, therefore, he should 
be able to refresh my memory respecting 
him, by any communication he may 
think fit to make, I shall have great 



pleasure in doing him justice, and obey? 
ing bis Royal higliness' commands. 
" 1 am. Sir, 
*' With great respect, and regard, 
" Your most obedient 

" Humble servant, 

" Alured Clarke." 
" Lieut. Col. J. W. Goidon, 
Secretai'y to H.R.H. the CommandefT 
in Chief, &c. &c. &c." 

No. 3. 
48 Foot. 
Mem* 23 Nov» 1804, 
Agreed to. 

Return this to J. M. 

" Sir, Strand, 14 Nov. 1804, 

" I am directed by General Tonyn 
to transmit you the enclosed Memorial, 
which the General begs leave to recom- 
mend to the notice of his Royal High- 
ness the Comma'ider in Chief. 
" I have the honour to be, 
" Sir, 
** Your most obedient 
" Humble servant, 

" Wm. Gilpin."? 
" Lieut. Col. Gordon, 
&c &c. &c. 

" Acqt Mr. Gilpin, for GeneralTonyn't 
information, that H. R. H. approves 
of Captain Spedding returning to 
half pay, and will recommend an 
Officer from that Est. to succeed 
him. 

•• To Field-Marshal his Royal Highness 
the Duke of York, and Albany, Com- 
mander in Chief of his Majesty's 
Forces, &c. &c. 
" The Memorial of Captain John Sped- 
ding of the 48th Regiment of Foot ; 
" Humbly Shewetli, 

*• That your Royal Highness' Memo- 
rialist, on account of a large family, and 
an intricacy which has recently occur- 
red in his private affairs, is desirous of 
retiring from the service upon half-pay. 
*• That he has been ten years in the 
army, three of which he has been in the 
West Indies. 

" That in the year 1799 he obtained 
leave of absence from the 11th West 
India regiment, wherein he then served 
as Captain, .and afterwards on the 17th 
of October 1799 exchanged to half pay 
with an officer of the 2d regiment of 
Irish Bi'igade, and did not upon that ex- 
change receive any diliierence. 



S31 



'> That he was removed from the half, 
pay in July 1803, not at his own re- 
quest. 

" Your Memorialist therefore humbly 
hopes that your Royal Highness will be 
pleased to permit him to retire upon 
half-pay ; and your Memorialist as in 
dutv bound, will ever pray. 

"■ 10th November 1804." 

48 Foot. 

Capt. Hon. Geo. Bl.-quicre. 

Mem. 23d Nov. 1804. 

" C. L.» 

" Capt Blaquiere from half-pay of 
Hompesch Di'agoons to be placed on full- 
pay in any regiment of Infantry." 

" The Commander in Chief has ap- 
proved of Captain Spedding of the 48th 
regiment being placed on half pay. 

" Captain Blaquiere may be appd. to 
the Co." 

Do you know what steps were taken 
when captain Spedding applied for pro- 
motion ? — A reference was made to Sir 
Alured Clarke, and it appeared that Sir 
Alured Clarke had very little or no 
knowledge of him. Sir Alui-ed Clarke's 
letter is here. 

Was there any expectation or encour- 
agement held out to captain Spedding, 
that he would receive promotion in an- 
swer to his application ? — No, I think 
not. I lind by a memorandum made 
upon the letter, thai he was not to be 
noted until a favourable report should he 
received ; in short, no notice was taken 
of his application ; his Memorial is dated 
the 28th of August, 1804. 

Is the committee to understand, that 
no notice was taken of his application, 
and no encouragement given to him be- 
tween that application and the time he 
went upon half-pay, so far as the docu- 
ments inform you ?— None that I know 
of 

Do you know whether theCommander 
in Chief stopped all promotion in the 
48th regiment ?--I have no recollection 
of it. 

Does it appear by any document in 
the office, that any reason was assigned 
to captain Spedding of that nature, as 
the reason for not giving him his pro- 
motion ?— 1 think not, I cannot find any 
such reason. 

If piomotion had been stopped in the 
48th regiment, is it not likely you must 
h^r^ recoUec^d it J—Yes, I think so ; 



some letter would have been writtelj 
upon the subject, some correspondence 
must have passed. 

Then you do not believe that there 
was any order given to slop promotion 
in the 48th regiment ?-Jii have already 
said I have no recollection of any sucli 
transaction. 

Have you any documents in your pos- 
se ssion that will shew in what manner 
Major Taylor obtained his promotion 

to a lieutenant-colonelcy ? Yes, £ 

have 

Did he obtain it by purchase ? — No,he 
ought not to have obtained it by pur- 
chase ; he was recommended by the co- 
lonel of a new levy. Lord Matthew. 

What was lord Matthew's levy, an 
Irish levy ? — Lord Matthew raised the 
99tli regiment, and by his letter of ser- 
vice was to recommend the officers ; his 
letter of service I have now in my hand, 
and major Taylor is at the head of it. 

Then the Commander in Chief could 
not do otherwise, under the conditions of 
that levy, than accept the recommenda- 
tion of major Taylor to be a lieutenant- 
colonel, if he had served the time pre- 
scribed by the regulations of the army, 
to be qualified to hold that rank ? — I can- 
not say that the Commander in Chief 
could not do otherwise, but it was a 
transaction perfectly regular, and in the 
due course of business. 

In point of fact, was lord Matthew, 
as the officer who had undertaken to 
raise the new levy, to recommend -4. 
lieutenant-colonel ? — Certainly. 

Then is the committee to understand 
that major Taylor obtained his promo- 
tion in consequence of this levy ? — Cer- 
tainly, I know of no other cause what- 
ever. 

[Colonel Gordon delivered In the pa- 
pers.] 
Major Taylor, 2jth Foot. 
1st October 1804. 

" To Field-Marshal his Royal Highness 
the Duke of York, Commander irtt 
Chief, &c. &c. &c. 

" The Memorial of Major John Taylor 
of his Majesty's 25th Regiment of' 
Foot ; 

" Sheweth, 

" That your Memorialist sc rved during 
the rebellion of 1798 in Ireland, as Bri- 
g:ide-Major and Aid-de-camp to Maj 
Gen. Trench, in \\'hirh situation he re 



332 



maiHed until the month of August 1799 ; 
■when Maj. Gen. Hutchinson, having 
been appointed to the Staff" of tlie army 
about to embark for Holland, was 
pleased to nominate Memorialist as his 
Aid-de-Campt '.n which station he serv- 
ed the campaign of that year. That Me- 
morialist in 1800 accompanied the ex- 
pedition under Lieut. Gen. Sir R. Aber- 
crombie to the Mediterranean, and land- 
ed with the army in Egypt ; Memorial- 
ist served the former part of that cam- 
paign as Aid-de-Camp to Lord Hutch- 
inson, who was pleased to nominate him 
the stuation of Deputy Adjutant-Gener- 
al, upon Col. Abercrombie's succeeding 
B. Gen. Hope as Adjutant-General, the 
latter having been appointed to the com- 
mand of a Brigade ; that in 1801 your 
Royal Highness was graciously pleased 
to obtain from his Majesty the rank of 
Major, for Memorialist, and lately to 
appoint him to a Majority in the 25th 
Reg. of Foot. 

*' Memorialist therefore relying on 
your Royal Highness' goodness pre- 
sumes to hope that your Royal Highness 
will not deem it improper,under circum- 
stances which he has had the honour to 
submit, to express an humble hope.that, 
should an opportunity occur of promot- 
ing him to a Lieutenant-Colonelcy in 
one of the new battalions, your Royal 
Highness will be graciously pleased to 
include him in the list of promotions. 
"J.Taylor, 
" Major 25th Foot." 
" Gordon's Hotel, Albermarle-street, 
1st Oct. 1804" 

" Major of 1801, and just promoted to 

the Majority ofthe Reg. 
** Considered with others having 

equal pretensions, but no favWe 

oppy. at present. 

99th Foot. 

I Mom. 28th Feb. 1805. 

" C. L." 

'^'^ Compare this List ivith that already 

in your possession." 
*' Col. Gordon, 
If you ivish to shew this to H.R.H. to-day. 

"Sir, 

"By direction of Lord "Matthew, 
we have the honour to request yoiu' 
Royal Highness will be pleased to re- 
commend to his Majesty, the officers 
whose names are contained in the in- 



closed list, for promotion, and appoint- 
ment in his Lordship's regiment. ^ 
" We have \\w. honour to be, 
" With great deference and respect, 
" Sir, 
"Your Royal Highness' 
" Your faithful and 

" devoted servants, 
" Craig's Court, ''Greenwood & Cox." 
23d Feb. 1805 " 
" Ficld-Mai-shal his Royal Highness the 

Duke of York, &c. &c. 

[Here follows a List of the Officers' 

names.] 

Does it appear thas he applied for 

leave to purchase a Lieut. Colenelcy ? — 

I do not find any such application. 

Have you any documents respecting 
the promotion of Capt. Ximines to a Ma- 
joi-ity in August 1804 ? — Yes, I have. 

Where was Captain Ximines when 
he was pi-omoted ? — With his regiment 
in Canada. 

Was he an old captain in the army ? 
— Yes, he was a captain of 1794, often 
years standing. 

Was he of that class of captains from 
his standing who was entitled,according 
to the view you take of the pretensions 
of officers of that rank and time, to a 
Majority ? — Yes, he was. 

[Col. Gordon delivered in the papers,] 

" Ximines was a Capt. of Nov. 1794, 
and promoted to a Majority in the 
62d Regt. on the 26th Aug 1804, in 
consequence of the accompanying 
apphcations from his bi'other." 
1 
Capt. Ximines, Wargrave Rangers. 
29th April, 1804. 
•'No. 40, Weymouth- Street, 
" Sir, Portland- Place, 29 April, 1804. 
" My brother, Capt. David Ximines, 
oftlie 29th Regt. (now at Halifax,)being 
a Capt. since I794,induces me, in his ab- 
sence, to have the honotir of requesting 
you'll be pleased to interest yourself with 
ids Royal Highness the Commander in 
Chief, for the purpose of obtaining him 
])ermission to enter on an arrangement 
(by me) for raising men under the latfr 
regulation, for a Majority for him. I was 1 
very successful in raising a large proper- % 
tion ofthe late Windsor Foresters Fen. 
Cav. in which I served from its com- 
mencement to the general reduction of 
Fen. Cav. in 1 800. I will use every exer- 
tion till his return, which I humbly hope. 



3S3 



in consideration of his being a captain of 
near ten years standing, and liiving pur- 
chased every step, his Royal Highness 
wdl graciously permit ; and I beg leave 
further to state, that when he was on the 
recruiting service he was very successful. 
" I am. Sir, with the utmost respect, 
" Your most obt. hble. serv't, 
" Col. Clinton, " Moris Ximines, 

&c. &c. &c." "Capt. Com. VVargrave 
*' Rangers. 
To be noted. 

1 

Maidenhead, 22d Aug. 1804. 

The Memorial of Capt. M. Ximines, of 

the Wargrave Rangers, m behalf of 

his brother, Capt. D. Ximines, of the 

29th Regt. 

His brother's claims will be considered- 

*' To Field-Marshal his Royal Highness, 
the Duke of York, Commander in 
Chief, &c. &Cr 
**The Memorial of captain Moris Xime- 
nes, commandant of the Wargrave 
Rangers, on behalf of his brother, 
captain David Ximines, of the 29th 
Regiment of Foot, now on duty with 
his Regiment ; 
*■* Most humbly sheweth, 

"That your Memorialist having seen 
in the Gazette several captains promot- 
ed to majorities, junior to the abovesaid 
captain David Ximines of the 29th foot, 
most humbly prays that your Royal 
Highness will be pleased to take his 
said brother's length of service (being 
nearly ten years a captain) into cunsid- 
eration, and recommend him to his Ma- 
jesty for promotion. 

"And your Memorialist will ever pray. 

" M. XlMENES. 

*' Bear Place, Maidenhead, Berks, 
"22d August, 1804." 
"He is a Capt. 

of 1794, and a " Approved 
young man — C.L." 

*'Capt.D.does your R.H. 
Ximenes approve of his "I have posted 
29 Reg.being noted for Capt. X. to the 
promotion — he 62d. 

is abroad with J. W. G." 
his corps." 

1 
London, 23d Dec. 1804. 
Major Ximines, 62d Regt. 

" New Hummums, 
" Sir, Dec. 23, 1804. 

•' I'll thank you to have the good- 
ness to inform his Royal Highness the 
43 



He must 
join his 
Regt. 



Commander in Chief, of my arrival here, 
and of my readiness to join the regiment, 
to which his condescending kindness has 
promoted me ; for which promotion I 
should be happy to return thaviks per- 
sonally to his Royal Highness. 
" I have the honour to be. Sir, 

" Your most obt. serv't, 

" D. XlMENES. 

Major 62d Reg." 
" Lt Col. Gordon, &c. &c. 
Horse -guards." 

M^J"''^^-|ForvourR.High- 
62Tr:^.| ness' perusal 

Was the levy of this regiment of lord 
Matthew's completed ? — It is actually 
now a regiment of the line, and serving, 
I think in the Bahamas ; it is tlie 99th 
regiment. 

Was it completed in the year 1804 I 
— It was so far completed as to entitle 
him to recommend his officers ; it was 
completed according to his letter of 
service, at least 1 believe so ; it was re- 
gularly inspected by the commander of 
the forces in Ireland, and I know noth- 
ing to the contrary. 

You observe in the statement of colo- 
nel Brooke's services he is appointed to 
the 56th regiment on the 5th of January 
1805 ? — I see it is so. 

Having slated in your former e^^- 
dence that it was necessary to make in- 
quiries into the services of lieutenant co- 
lonel Brooke, on the first of July, when 
the exchange was proposed ; were not 
inquiries made previous to the 5th of 
January, when he was appointed as ef- 
fective to the 56th regiment of foot from 
half-pay ? — I take it for granted that due 
inquiries were made ; but I think I have 
stated in my evidence that particular in- 
quiries were necessary on his exchange 
to the cavalry. 

You mean that inquiries respecting 
colonel Brooke were made with respect 
to his fitness as a field officer of cavalry? 
— I mean exactly that. 

You will observe, that the only ser- 
vices of colonel Brooke as a cavalry offi- 
cer, are for three months as a cornet 
in 1793 ; state what the result of your 
inquiries into the services of Colonel 
Brooke as a cavalry officer were, in ad- 
dition to those stated as a cornet for 
three months in 1793. — That very cir- 
cumstance made the inquiries still more 
necessary, and the result of them was 
.satisfactory, as I have before stated ; 



C?A 



anittllat lliey were satisfactory, the ser- 
vices of colonel Brooke have since very 
fully proved. 

State what other services colonel 
Bi'ooke was eng'a.e^ed in which could g"ive 
him a knowledge of cavalry, in addition 
to the three months during- which he was 
cornet in 1793. — 1 have already stated 
to tiic committee, and it is in evidence 
before them, tliat I ko|)t no memoran- 
dum in writing of such inquiries, but 
tiKit tlie result of such inquiries was 
salibfactory ; the conduct of colonel 
Brooke, in the command of his regi- 
ment, has proved that they were emi- 
nently satisfactory. 

[The following entry was read from the 
London Gazette of the 18th August 
1804. 

" 14th Regiment of Foot, Lieuten- 
ant Colonel Hon. Wm. Bligh fron^ 
the half-pay of the o4th Foot, to be 
Lieutenant Colonel." 

\V1LLL\M ADAM, Esq.aMcmber of 
The House, attending in his place, was 
examined, as follows : 

You stated in your fust examination, 
that yovi considered Mrs. Clarke had 
jpt'ejudiced his Royal Highness| interest 
ami his name with regard to money, 
and that an investigation took i)lacc ; 
in consequence of that investigation, 
did anj proofs appear of his Roval 
Highness' name having ever been used 
by lier to procure money ? — It is impos- 
sible lor me to state the particular facts 
that appeared ; but I remember per- 
fectly well, it was certainly est;tbiished 
tbat there had been transactions, with 
regard to goods, and likewise with re- 
gard to bills, which satisfied me that 
that representation was correct ; 1 made 
no memorandum at the time. 

Tiicn you cannot slate any particular 
transactions, or any particular sum, ftn- 
which the name of the Dttke of Yorlc 
was made use of to raise money for Mrs. 
Clarke ! — Certainly not. 

Can you state the sources from 
whence you derived the information of 
its being so raised ? — I believe I have 
already stated in that part of my evi 
dence, that, in order to obiain tlie 
information that was necessary to en- 
able his Royal Highness to judge what 
course lie should lake with resjject to 
Mrs. Clarke, I comuiunicatcd wiili Mr. 



Lowlen, and he employed Mi-. Wilkin- 
son ; Mr. Wilkinson made an investiga- 
tion, and reported the circumstances to 
me. 

It appears in your evidence, that the 
facts of the raising of money, or the 
prejudicing the interests of the Duke 
of York, by making use ol" his name, 
were communicated, afier the investi- 
gation, to his Royal Highness ; were 
they communicated to his Royal High- 
ness by yourself, or by Mr Lowten, 

or by Mr. Wilkinson ? The result of 

the investigation was drawn up by 
Mr. Wilkinson or Mr. Lowten, I do 
not know wliich, and that was con- 
veyed to his Royal Highness, not by 
my hand, but transmitted to his Royal 
Highness when he was at Oatlands, I 
believe, upon the 7th or 9th of May 
18UG. 

I understood by your evidence, that 
his Royal Highness the Duke of York 
was very unwdling to believe the i'acts 
that wei'c chai'ged against Mrs. Clarke ; 
is the committee lo understand, that 
after the investigation was made, and 
the facts were communicated to liis 
Royal Highness, he was then satisfied 
that she had made use of his name, and 
prejudiced his interest by so doing ?— 
I can only answer that by stilting what 
his Ro_\al Highness' conduct was : his 
Royal Highness, in consequence of be- 
ing possessed of the information which 
1 have stated to have been conveyed to 
him, immediately, or very soon after, 
came to a resolution to take the step of 
separating IVom Mrs. Clarke. 

Then 1 understand you to say, that 
the consequence of laying these facts 
before his Royal Highness the Duke of 
York, was his separation from Mrs.. 
Clarke? — I caA draw no otlier conclu- 
sion than that ; for, as I have already 
stated in my evidence, before that time 
there was no reason to suppose that his 
Royal Highness intended to separate 
from Mrs. Clarke, and after that time he 
did take that determination. 

Did you read, at any time, the state- 
ment that was drawn up by Mr. Lowten 
or Mr. Wilkinson, and submitted to his 
Rojal Highness the Duke of York ? — I 
certainly did. 

Does your recollection furnish you 
with any specific, sum that was raised 
b\ Mrs. Clarke in tliC Duke of York'.s 
name, without his authority ? — No, it 
does not. 



S35 



■ Probably jou know -whetlier the pa- 
per whicli was delivered to his Royal 
Highness tiie Duke of York is in the 
possession of his Royal Highness at 
present I — I never have seen that paper 
since. 

When did you first hear of tlie note 
in the possession of captain Sandon .' — 
On Saturday morning, the 4th of this 
month, between ten and eleven o'clock. 

From whom did you hear of it .' — I 
heard of it from colonel Hamilton ; 
coloiiel Hamilton came to my house on 
Saturdaj morning, between ten and ele- 
ven o'clock, before 1 was out of my bed. 

State to the committee what passed 
upon that occasion. — Colonel Hamilton 
came to my liouse between ten and 
eleven o'clock on Saturday morning, and 
was shewn up to me. He immediately 
mentioned to me, that he had seen cap- 
tain Sandon at Portsmouth ; that captain 
Sandon had communicated with him 
upon the subject of this inquiry ; he 
said, that captain Sandon had asked him 
how he should conduct himself ; that 
he had told captain Sandon that there 
could be no rule for ids conduct but 
one, whicli was, to adhere strictly to 
truth, to tell every thing he knew, that 
it would not at :dl avail liim to do other- 
wise, even if he should have an incli- 
nation, because he would be examined 
(I think he said) by the united ability 
of the country. He tlien told me, that 
captain Sandon told li.iii that he had 
some letters \ipon the subject of his 
transactions with Mrs. Cliike, and that 
he had a note, whicli is tiie note in 
question, wiilch he believed to be in 
the Duke of York's hand-writing ; that 
that note lie had s^iewn to captain To- 
nyn before he was made major Tonyn, 
in order to induce him either to keep 
tile deposit wliicli he had made, or to 
replace the deposit wiiicli he had 
made, I cannot exactly recollect which ; 
that deposit he had tiireatened to with- 
draw in consequence of the delay be- 
tween the first interview he (captain 
Sandon) had with captain Tonyn, on 
the subject of his promotion, which he 
represented, I think, as bein^ nearly 
two months ; that there was likewise 
another note, which note had been de- 
livered, as he stated, to major Tonyii, 
which was a note saying he was to be 
gazetted to-night, or in words to that 
effect. Colonel Hamilton told me, he 
had given strict injunctions to captam 



Sandon to preserve the note which he 

rci)resentcd as in the Duke of York's 
hand-writing, and whicli 1 understand 
now to be the note about which there 
has been so much inquiry here, the 
original of which has been produced, 
and every paper. 1 said to coK nel 
Hamilton, that nothing could be more_ 
correct than his instruction ; that it 
still remained to be seen what the terms 
Oi the note were, and to be judged of 
whether it was the Duke of York's 
hand -writing- ; I desired colonel Hamil- 
ton thereibre to go to captain Sandon, 
and to desire to look at the note, and 
to take a copy of it, and to repeat his, 
injunctions in the strongest maiiiivr, to 
preserve all the papers, and among the 
rest the note. Colonel Hamilton re- 
turned to my house, I think it must 
have been considerably before (;ne 
o'clock ; it was after twelve, or about 
twelve : he told me that he hail re- 
peated those instructions j that he had 
taken a copy of the note, which he 
brought to me, which I perused, and 
found to be in the very terms of the 
note which has been since produced ; 
and he added, that according to his 
opinion and belief, it was the Duke of 
York's hand-writing. 1 then told him, 
that such circumstances must be im- 
mediately comnmnicated ; and I wished 
him therefore to go to Mr. Perceval, 
with a note which I wrote, and that I 
would follow as soon as I could. Co- 
lonel Hamiiton went to Mr. Perceval, 
which I know, because I found hira 
there, and had told Mr. Perceval tlje 
stoiy bci'ore I arrived. Mr. Perceval 
and ni} self deliberated upon the roui'^e 
to be taken ; and having tiiutei stood 
from colonel Hamilton's representations 
(for I believe neither of us ever saw 
captain Sandon till he came to the bar 
of this House) ihat ca^nain Sandon Lad 
been applied to by Mrs. Clarke, and I 
tliink he said Mr. Wurdle, but I wiii 
not be sure, and Mr. Lowten, to go to 
them, it was Mr. Perceval's suggestions 
and my own, (I believe mutually al- 
most) that the most advisable course 
for us to direct colonel Hamilton to take, 
was to instruct captain Sandon to hold 
no further communication with any 
person whatever till he appeared at the 
bar of this House, anil likewise to in- 
struct him to preserve the note and all 
the papers he had spcken of. Colonel 
Hamilton received those instructions 



43d 



at Mr. Perceval's house, and went, as I 
jjresijined to make the communication 
immediately to Capt. Sandon, which was 
to be done before two o'clock, because 
Sandon had promised, as we understood 
from colonel Hamilton, to give his an- 
swers, to the persons who had desired 
to see him, at that hour. After having 
given these directions to colonel Hamil- 
ton, it was agreed by Mr. Perceval and 
myself, that tliis matter ought to be 
communicated to the Duke of York, and 
it was further agreed by us, that the 
matter should be brought before the 
House of Commons by \\s, in case it did 
not make its appearance in the evidence 
of captain Sandon. I went in search of 
his Royd highness the Duke of York, 
but it was the evenmg before I saw him ; 
J communicated the matter to him, he 
expressed his surprise andustonisliment, 
and declared the impossibility of his ever 
having made any such communication, 
and wished immediately to go to Mr. 
Perceval ; we went to Mr. Perceval's 
together, where he made a similar as- 
severation, and again at colonel Gor- 
don's. I did not see his Royal High- 
ness again till between three and four 
o'clock on Sunday the 5th, and I did not 
see colonel Hamilton until Sunday atone 
o'clock, when I saw iiim for the purpose 
of learning whether he had executed the 
delivering the instructions to captain 
Sandon in the manner that Mr. Perce- 
val and m} self had required ; colonel 
Hamilton told me tliat he had delivered 
them in the very terms ; that captain 
Sandon had said, that lie, colonel Ham- 
ilton, miglit depend upon his, captain 
Sandon's, obeying his instructions ; but 
that he would be extremely angry with 
him, or extremely enraged with him, I 
am not sin-e whicli was the expression, 
for he had already disobe} ed one of liis 
instructions, he had destroyed the note ; 
vipon which, according to colonel Ham- 
ilton's representation, he said. Good 
God, have you destroyed the note ? Of 
course I expressed myself to a similar 
effect to colonel Hamilton when he made 
the communication to me respecting the 
destruction of the note I went to Mr. 
Perceval,according to appointment made 
tlie day before, and communicated 
to him this fact, as stated by colonel 
Hamilton ; this became again the sub- 
ject of our deliberations, and wc again 
determined ti>at it was our duty, as 
members of Parliament, to bring the 
^efiatter for-',vard, leaving it to oiu'selv^s 



to judge in some measure, with regard 
to the time of bringuig it forward ; and 
in order that there might be a possibili- 
ty of supposing that we brought it for- 
ward or kept It back, according to cir- 
cumstances, it was determined to make 
the communication to certain Members 
of ' his House. Accordingly the facts, as 
I Jiave now stated them, were communi- 
cated to lord Casilereagh, to Mr. Can- 
ning, to the Attorney and Solicitor Gen- 
eral, to lord Henry Petty,, to Mr Whit- 
bread and to general Fitzpatrick. This 
brings the fact down to the transaction 
in this House. 

Mr Lowien is employed as an agent 
of the Duke of York ?— He is. 

Has Mr. Lowten been in the practice 
of examining the witnesses that were 
produced in supjiort of tiie charges 
against the Duke of York ?— 1 really do 
not know whether he has or not. 

When you stated the circumstance of 
thisnoteto the Duke ofYorkdid the Duke 
York state tliat he could state that he nev- 
er had written such a note with a view of 
influencing Capt.Tonyn,as it has been re- 
presented by Capi. Sandon, or that he had 
never written such a note at all to Mrs. 
Clarke ?— The Duke of York stated, 
that he was perfectly sure tliat he had 
never written such a note ; that he had 
not a recollection of it at all. 

Did he state to you, that he had never 
written to Mrs. Clarke upon the subject 
of military aflairs ? — He always stated 
to me, that, to the best of his recollec- 
tion, he had never written to Mrs. Clarke 
on the subject of military afi'alrs, and 
that, if he had done it, it must have 
been very rarely. 

Have you any objection to state what 
were the grounds of your withholding 
this communication from the House till 
tlie period it was brought forward ? — 
The ground that influenced my mind 
was, that 1 thought if the communica- 
tion had been brougiitforward-at an ear- 
lier period, it might have embarrassed 
the course of proceeding in the inquiry, 
at the instance of the gentleman who 
had set it on foot, and tiiat in consider- 
ing the whole circumstances of the case, 
justice would be better obtained, what- 
ever the effect of that note migiit be, by 
keeping it back till tiie period when it 
was allowed to transpire. I ran only 
say now what were my motives andrea^ 
sons for that conduct ; that was what in- 
fluenced me in the opinion I gave in 
congultation with Mr. Perceval uj)on 



337 



that subject. I mentioned that I did 
not see the Duke of York again till 
three or four o'clock on Sunday ; at one 
o'clock on Sunday I was informed by co- 
lonel Hamilton, of Sandon's having de- 
clared the note to be destroyed. Be- 
tween three and four o'clock on Sunday 
I informed the Duke of York of that 
fact. I think it right to state that as a 
matei'ial fact in the case. 

You have stated, that one motive 
•which you had for keeping' back the 
mention of this note to so late a period, 
was, lest you should embarrass the gen- 
tleman who brouglit forward this Inqui- 
quiry, by the premature disclosure of 
the note ; explain to the committee how 
that disclosure would have embarrassed 
him more than the ci'oss-examinations 
wliich took place, when the witness ap- 
peared at the bar ? — I considered this 
note, and the transaction respecting it, 
the disclosui-e respecting its desiruc- 
tion, to form one of the most extraordi- 
nary features that I had ever known of 
in any case. If I had been in tlie course 
of examining the witnesses much in this 
proceeding, 1 should have avoided cross- 
examining to that fact, thinking the 
mode that was adopted a more satisfac- 
tory means of bringing it forward ; and 
I believe it will be found, that there was 
no cross-examination of Sandon to that 
fact, nor any thing that could lead to it ; 
and therefore, answering to the motive, 
and not to the fact, I can only say it does 
not strike me that this stands upon the 
same footing as the ordinary cross-ex- 
amination of witnesses, according to my 
conc( ption. 

Wiiy should its being an extraordina- 
rj' feature, prevent its being presented 
at an early period ; is it usual for extra- 
ordinary features to be kept back in evi- 
dence in courts of justice, when they re- 
late to the evidence that witnesses exam- 
ined in chief, are given to the Court ? — 
I conceive, that being possessed of a 
fact of this sort, which I found in my 
bounden duty, in conjunction with Mr. 
Perceval, to bring before the pubUc, 
whatever its consequences might be, 
and wiiich the Royal Duke, I believe, 
had expressed a desire to Mr. Perceval, 
should be brought before the public, 
that I had a right to exercise my discre- 
tion, in conjunction with Mr. Perceval, 
to bring it before the public at the time 
that, according to that discretion, we 
should think the best, meaning honest- 



ly and distinctly at all times to bring 
it before the House. 

You have stated, that you thought 
that the purposes of justice would be 
best answered by not bnnging this fact 
before the House sooner than it waa 
brought ; will you explain how tlie pur- 
poses of justice werelikelj to behest an- 
swered by the delay in bringing forward 
the circumstances respecting the note ? 
— I can only state how 1 think the pur- 
poses of justice would be best answer- 
ed ; I cannot be so presumptuous as to 
say that the purposes of justice were 
best answered, but in my opinion they 
were, because it brought this particular 
feature of the case distinctly, clearly, 
and unembarrassed, before the House ; 
that if it had been mixed up in cross- 
examination, or brought forward in that 
shape, it neither would have appeared 
so distinct, nor have appeared so clearly 
the determination of the persons bring- 
ing it forward. 

The Right Honourable SPENCER 
PERCEVAL, attending in his place, 
was examined by the Committee, as 
follows : 

Have you heard the statement of the 
honourable gentleman lately under ex- 
amination, and do you wish to add any- 
thing to that statement ? — I am not quite 
certain that I heard the whole. If it is 
wished tliat I should state the motives 
that influenced my mind, not in keeping 
this back, but in not bringing it forward 
before, Iconceived the case that was to be 
made against the Royal Duke was clos- 
ed. When the communication was made, 
to me, I thought at the first it was a 
very extraordinary circumstance ; and 
when 1 found that the note was, as the 
witness represented it, destroyed, cou- 
pled with the direct assertion of tlie 
Royal Duke that this note was a forge-: 
ry, 1 tliought it to ';e a forgery, and I 
determined to act upon the supposition 
of its being such, and upon tliat impres- 
sion, and with a view the better to de- 
tect it, if it were so, I thought it bettCE 
that all tile witnesses that could in any 
degree have been concerned in that 
transaction, should have told their own 
tale to the committee, before they were 
in any degree informed, by me at least, ' 
or by the course that we took, of our 
being in possession of any fact, or in- 
clined to make use of tlie information 
we had of any fact ; it might bi'eak iu 



338 



upon their own plan of narrating it to 
the committee; if it had been a single 
Oflse, instead of a variety of cases, that 
were brought before the committee, I 
apprehend that there could be no ques- 
tion ; that on the part of the defence to 
that charge, those who interested them- 
selves in the defence could not be called 
upon to produce any part of the evidence 
which they thought material, till they 
had the whole of the case that was to be 
brought against them laid before the 
court I and considering how the whole 
of these cases are, by means of the same 
witnesses, more or less, being brought 
forward upon them all ; considering 
from tliat circumstance how they were 
all connected, I conceived it would be 
better that this information should not 
be given till it was closed. 

Was the intfbduction of tliis evidence 
settled, upon the supposition that the 
note was actually destroyed ? — Certain- 
ly my impression was, that the note was 
actually destroyed, and it was after that 
impression was conveyed to me, that 
the note was actually destroyed, that I 
concurred with my honoiu'able and 
learned friend in thinking that it was 
equally necessary that fact should be 
brought before the committee ; and per- 
haps I might be permitted to add, that, 
feeling there was a considerable degree 
of awkwardness in the appearance of 
being backward to bring forward at the 
earliest period a fact so important as this 
fact was, we did think that our own 
lionour would hardly be safe, unless we 
made a communication not oidy of tlie 
fact, but of our determination to produce 
it in the manner in which we did. 

WILLIAM ADAM, Esq. in his place, 
made a statement, as follows : 
It becomes unnecessary for me to 
state any thing in confirmation of what 
has been stated by tKe Chancellor of the 
Excliequer, but I think it right to state to 
the committee, that the whole course of 
our conduct rested on a thorough con- 
viction that the note was destroyed. 

Mr. BENJAMIN TOWN was called 

in, and examined by the Committee, 

as follows : 

State to the committee your name. — 
Benjamin Town. 

I presume, then, you are of the Jew- 
ish persuasion ? — I am. 

You hayig,stated on a former occasion, 
that in your transactions witli Mrs. 



Clarke, she told you she could forge thrf 
Duke of York's name ; are you aware 
that that word is applicable only to frau- 
duleni transactions ? — That I cannot say. 

Did you use it in that sense ? — No, I 
did not. 

Did you then, when you mentioned 
the word forge, only mean the word im- 
itate ? — Those were her words, that sjie 
could forge the Duke's name, and she 
has done it, and she showed it me im- 
mediately on a piece of paper. 

Did 3'ou understand thai word forge 
to mean imitate ? — Those were the 
words that she expressed. 

Had you, before you gave your evi- 
dence here on a former occasion, read 
in the newspaper thai part of Mrs. 
Clarke's evidence, wherein she spoke 
of you as a Jew, and said, perhaps you 
might have stolen a letter or two from 
her ? — I never saw the paper, nor never 
heard of it. 

Did you say that Mrs. Clarke had 
forged the Duke's hand-writing ? — She 
said slie could, and she has done it ; that 
she has forged the Duke's name, and 
she showed it me on a piece of paper. 

What is your name ? — BenjaminTown. 

How long have you had that name ? — 
My father's name is Town. 

Does vour father go by the name of 
Town ?— Yes. 

How long has he gone by the name of 
Town I — That I do not know. 

Have you ever known him by any oth- 
er ? — No. 

Recollect yourself. No, I have not. 

What is your father ? — He is a Jew. 

What is his trade ? — He is an artist, 
he teaches velvet-painting. 

How long has he taught velvet-paint- 
ing ? — Many years. 

Do you remember your father carry- 
ing on any other trade but that of velvet- 
painting ? — That I do not know, he 
might 1 Ladies have now and then, I 
sujjpose, asked him to recommend some 
jewellery to them, and I tliink he has 
sent different Jewelleries to the ladies. 

Did you ever know him go by the 
name of Lyons ? — No, never. 

I understand you to say, that Mrs. 
Clarke told you she could forge the 
Duke of York's hand, and that she ac- 
tually forged his hand in you presence ? 
— She said that she could, and she has 
done it, and she showed to me on apiece 
of paper, and I could not tell the differ- 
ence between the two. 

How could you tell it was the Dii]^ 



339 



•f York's hand writing ? — I did not 
know, only as she told me. 

What do you mean by forging ? — 1 do 
not know ? tliose were her words ; I 
only tell you what she told me. 

Did you appear as witness at tlie ses- 
sion at Clerkenwell ? — Yes, I did ; it is 
a considerable time back. 

Do you know Mr. Alley, a Barrister, 
and recollect any such Barrister at those 
sessions ? — Yes, he was, I believe, Mr. 
Smith's counsel. 

State whether any thing particular 
happehed at that sessions with regard to 
your evidence ? — 1 do not recollect. 

Endeavour to recollect wiiether Mr. 
Alley, in that court, used any strong ex- 
pressions to you ? — I do not recollect 
any ; he said that I was a Jew, and that 
all the Jews ought to be punished, or 
something of that kind ; he made use 
of some language which 1 cannot recol- 
lect. 

Is any indictment now hanging over 
your head for perjury ? 
£Tiie witness was directed to withdraw. 

[The witness was again called in, and 
the question was proposed.] 

No. 

Do you know of any proceedings ? — I 
know there is a proceeding, but I do 
not know upon w^hat grounds ; it is not 
against me ; it is not belonging to me. 
{[The witness wasdirectedto withdraw. 

[The witness w^as again called in.] 

Are you sure that you are in no way 
eonnected with that proceeding ? — I do 
not know whether it is my sister or 
brother ; I cannot tell which. 

Are you sure you are no way implica- 
ted in or connected with that proceed- 
ing ? —No, I am not. 

What is the proceeding, and against 
whom ? — It is so long since, I cannot 
tell ; there have been so many, and Mr. 
Smith has lost them all, that 1 cannot 
recollect what he is doing, or what he 
intends doing. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

WILLIAM ADAM, Esquire, made 
the following statement in his place. 
In my examination this evening, I 
have been asked whether his Royal 
Highness stated to me, that he had not 
corresponded with Mrs. Clarke upon 
military matters ; in answer to which, 
I said, that his Royal Highness did not 
recollect ever having corresponded with 
her upon military matters ; or if he had, 
TCry rarely. The latter part of that an- 



swer is erroneous, and without that ad- 
dition, *' very rarely," the answer is 
correct. 

Did the Duke of York state to you, 
that he did not recollect ever having 
written to Mrs. Clarke, about any mili- 
tary business w'hatever ! — The Duke of 
York certainly stated to me, that he did 
not recollect to have written to Mrs. 
Clarke upon any military matters what- 
ever. He afterwards said, that if he had 
ever written to Mrs. Clarke upon any 
military matters whatever, it must have 
been merely in answer to some ques- 
tion put in some letter of hers ; and 
his Royal Highness said expressly, that 
when she once stated something to him 
early in their acquaintance, respecting 
a promotion in the army, he said, that 
was business that he could not listen to, 
and he never heard any thing more of it 
afterwards. 

JOHN MESSENGER was called in, 

and examined by the Committee, as 

follows : 

What is your situation in life ? — Hive 
with Mr. Parker. 

What is he ?— A Goldsmith. 

Does he receive goods in pledge ? — 
He does. 

He is a pawnbroker ? — He is. 

Did Mrs. Clarke ever pledge any 
goods with Mr. Parker ? — Yes, she did. 

Did Mrs. Clarke ever apply to Mr. Par- 
ker to discount any bills .' — Yes, she did. 

Among the bills so discounted, were 
there any drawn by Mr Dowler upon 
Mrs. Farquhar ? — Yes, there was one. 

State the date of that bill, and the 
amount. — The bill was dated on the 
11th of June, 1805, at two months after 
date. 

What did the bill purport lobe. — For 
3631. drawn by Dowler and accepted by 
Farquhar. 

What is the christian name of Dow- 
ler ? — I do not know. 

What is the christian name of Farqu- 
har ? — Ido not know ; Mrs. Clarke has 
credit by bill of Dowler on Farquhar. 

Did Mr. Parker discount th.at bill ?— 
He did. 

Was it paid when it became due ? — 
No, it was not. 

Did Mr. Dowler draw any other bills > 
— No, I believe not, not to my knowl- 
edge i I do not perceive any other bill 
drawn by Dowler. 

Is there no other bill drawn in the 
name of Farquhar ?— None drawn by 



S40 



F^arquhar ; there are others drawn by 
Mrs. Clarke, and accepted by Mrs. Far- 
quhar. 

Were those bills paid ? — No, not the 
day they were due ; there was one for 
1001. which we discounted for her on the 
13th of July, 1805. 

That was not paid when due ? — No ; 
another on the 19lh of September, drawn 
by Clarke on Farquhar at two months. 

Was that paid when due ? — No ; on 
the 27th of September we discounted 
another drawn by Clarke on Farquhar 
the 27th. of September, at two months, 
for 1001. 

Was that paid when due ? — No, I be- 
lieve it was not ; that is the whole that 
we discounted. 

How were those bills taken up ? — We 
received on the 19th September, a draft 
of the Duke of York's, dated on the 
18th of January, l.'<06, for 4001. dated 
forwards three months ; it was due on 
the 18th February. 

How were the others taken up ? — On 
the 4th December, we have credited 
her with a bill of Bell on Pritchard, for 
1001. ; another drawn by Bell on Millard, 
ibi- 1001. 

Were any others taken up by anydraft 
•r check of the Duke of York's ' — We 
received on the 10th of February 18u6, 
a promissory note, drawn by the Duke 
of York, payable to Parker, dated on 
the 8th of February, at four months, for 
3301. 



Had Mp. Parker jewels or other prop- 
erty of Mrs. Clarke's, in his possession, 
as a security for those advances ? — Yes. 

Were there any bills in 1805 ?— The 
one for 4001 was taken in 1805. 

Does your book state what pledge 
was redeemed by that bill in September 
1805 ?— It was discounted ; no pledge 
was redeemed in September. 

Did Mrs. Clarke deposit any goods in 
pledge, in the year 1805 ?— That I do 
not recollect. 

Does not your book state that ? — No. 
[The witness was directed to witlidraw. 

[The following entry was read from 
the Gazette of September 4th, 1804. 
" 48th Regiment of Foot, Lieuten- 
ant William Fry French to be 
Captain, without purchase, vice 
Colquhoun, promoted in the 14th 
Battalion of Reserve." 

[The following entry was read from 
the Gazette of the 6th of October, 
1804- 

" 25th Regiment of Foot, Ensign 
Henry Crotty, from the 48th 
Foot, to be Lieutenant, without 
purchase." 

[The Chairman was directed to re- 
port progress, and ask leave to sit 
again. 



t2d of February, 1809. 



tiolonel DIGBY HAMILTON, was 

called in hiiJ examined by the com- 
mittee as follows : . 

When did you first know captain San- 
Son was in possession of tiiatnoie, which 
is now in the possession of tlie House .' 
—He infornled me so at Portsmouth, 
the day that he arrived. 

Was that before Or after the com- 
mencement of the inquiry in this House ? 
— It was after the inquiry commenced. 

When did you first communicate this 
Intelligence, and to wlioni did you com- 
municate it ? — The communication was 
made to me on Wednesday, and on Sat- 
urday following I communicated it to 
Mr. Adam. 

Did captain Sandon tell you, that he 
Considered this note of great importance 
to the present inquiry ? — I do not recol- 
lect that he did. 

Did captain Sandon tell you, that he 
believed this note was forged ? — Cer- 
tainly not ; no conversation of the sort 
took place between captain Sandon and 
myself. 

Wiien you first saw the note, did you 
believe that it was forged or genuine ? 
—In my opinion, I thought it to be the 
hand- writing of the Duke of York, and 
thcjefore I did not conceive it to be 
forged. 

Arc you acquainted with the hand- 
writing of he I 'like of York? — I have 
never sen his R'iyal Highness write ; 
I have had occiis on to see letters, which 
I was led to believe were his Royal 
Highness' writing ; and I have also seen 
his signature to public documents 

Did you desire captain Sandon not to 
destroy tiiis note ?- Repeatedly', and 
laid the strongest injunctions upon him 
to that efiiect. 

When you communicated this intelli- 
g'ence to Mr. Adam, you believed that 
the note was in existence ? — Judging 
from what captain Sandon liad pi omised 
me, when I saw him at Portsmouth, I 
took foi* granted that he had not de- 
44 



stroyed the note ; I had no communlca- 
tion with him after I saw him on the 
business till I met him on the morning of 
my seeing Mr. Adam, which was subse- 
quent lo my mentioning the occurrence 
to Mr. Adam. 

Did captain Sandon tell you, that he 
thought it would be best to destroy the 
note ? — No. 

Did captain Sandon communicate to 
you an3'thing of his motives for wishing 
to destroy the note ? — I had no intimation 
whatever from captain Sandon of such 
an intention. I only knew, or believed, 
the note to be destroyed, upon his in- 
forming me that he had done so. 

Was the occusicm of captain Sandon's 
stating to you that he had destroyed the 
note, on your returning from Mr. Adam 
and myself (the Ciiancellor of the Ex- 
chequer) with a direction to him not to 
destroy it ? — It perhaps would be more 
satisfactory to t!ie House, if I were to 
state the reasons which led to captain 
Siuidon's making that declaration to me s 
After I had seen Mr. Adam, I made an 
appointment with captain Sandon to 
meet me at the Britisli Coffee House at 
two o'clock on the same day ; previous 
to going to the Biiti.sh Coffee-house, I 
had tie honour of an interview with the 
Chancellor of the Exchequer : I was 
desired to repeat what I hud previously 
stilted to captain Sandon, the necessity 
of his preserving all the papers, and that 
he should confine himself strictly to the 
truth in his examination before this hon- 
ourable Htiuse. When I went to 'tie 
British Coti'ee House, there were seve- 
ral persons in the room, and 1 did not 
conceive that a proper place to talk up- 
on such a subject ; 1 begged him to ac- 
company me, as I was going tow:vds 
the city ; in going towards Temple-bar, 
he said, colonel, 1 am sorry that ' lu.ve 
have not complied with the whole of 
of your injunctions, for I have destroyed 
the note. I told him that he had done 
extremely wrong ; that it would be of 



c 



342 



serious consequence, and that It must 
be his own affair. I iiad no intercourse 
■wlv.'.tever witli captain Sundon from that 
per.od till the day of his committment by 
this honourable Hoii&e ; he came to call 
upon me on the morning of that day ; I 
met mm after I left my lodging in Ox- 
ford-street ; he mentioned that he came 
to explain to me that he had not de- 
stroyed the note, but that he did not 
mean to produce it. I told him he 
would do extremely wrong', and that I 
could only repeat the injunctions 1 'had 
formerly given him, and that 1 did not 
mean to discuss the subject further. 
After some conversation as to regimen- 
tal business, we parted. Captain San- 
don stated, that the papers were his own, 
and that he thought he had a right to do 
whatever he thought proper with them. 

Did captain Sandon tell you why he 
did not mean to produce the papers ? — 
No, he did not assign any reason what- 
ever. 

In the first conversation you had with 
captain Sandon, or at a future conver- 
sation when he produced the note, did 
he say they had forgotten this ? — It is 
impossible for me to recollect at what 
period he mentioned to me that he did 
not confine his observations to the note ; 
but he said, he believed the party who 
brought forward the inquiry, were not 
aware that such papers were in his pos- 
session. 

In }our first conversation with cap- 
tain Sandon upon this subject, did cap- 
tain Sandon promise that he would pre- 
serve the note ; upon the second inter- 
view, did he not tell you that he had de- 
stroyed tlie note ; and upon a subsequent 
interview, did he not tell you that it was 
not destroyed ? — No, that is not the or- 
der of things. Captain Sundon promis- 
ed me that he would follow the whole 
of my injunctions ; I did not lay au) par- 
ticular stress upon that note, or any 
note, but told him to preserve all the 
papers, to speak the truth, and not to 
prevaricate ; it was a general injunc- 
tion, but nothing specific With re- 
spect to the note, that was the first con- 
versation ; the second conversation was 
of the same tendency ; it was at the 
third interview, after we left the Brit- 
ish Coffee House, he informed, me that 
he had destroyed the note. 

And upon the fourth, he informed yoti 
it was still in his possession ? — More 
than a week, probably a fortnight, had 
elapsed before he told me the note was 



in his possession, because it was oa 
the Satui'day after the interview with 
Mr. Adam, that I learned he had de- 
stroyed the note, and I expressed sur- 
prise that he had done so 1 did not 
see captain Sandon, except getting out 
of a gentleman's carriage, the day of his 
examination, w^hen 1 had not further 
conversation than my expressing, that I 
hoped he had not had any intercourse ei- 
ther with Mr. Lowten or the other party j 
but nothing passed further on the sub- 
ject of the papers till the morning of the 
day that he was committed. 

A fortnight after captain Sandon had 
said that he had destroyed tlie note, he 
informed you that he had not destroyed 
the note, which was on the day of his 
examination here ? — Exactly so. 

When you copied the note, was the 
note in an envelope ; was there any cov- 
er upon the note, and if so, did you ob- 
serve the hand-writing of the direction 
upon that cover ? — If my recollection is 
correct, I believe that it was not inclos- 
ed in a cover ; the direction was some- 
thing Farquhar, Esq, I believe George 
Farquhar, Esq. and the hand-writing 
appeared to me not to be the same with 
the contents of the note ; it was not 
written with that freedom and ease 
which the contents of the note were. 

What induced you to copy that note 
particularly ? — I was desired by Mr. 
Adam to do so. 

You have mentioned the very proper 
advice which you gave captain Sandon, 
to preserve carefully every paper, and 
not to prevaricate before this House, 
but to speak nothing but the truth ; 
were you induced to give that advice 
simply by a consideration of its general 
propriety, or in consequence of any thing 
that had passed with captain Sandon, 
which made you think that advice par- 
ticularly necessary? — 1 should state to the 
House, that 1 did not consider the advice 
that 1 gave to Capt. Sandon, merely as the 
advice from one individual to another ; 
1 considered that captain Sandon came 
to consult me as his colonel, officially, 
on the line of conduct he should pursue ; I 
was not influenced byany other consider- 
ations but tho.se of duty, but I gave him 
that advice which I thought every man of 
honour, and every officer ought to follow. 

Then the committee is to understand, 
that nothing had been said by captain 
Sandon which raised in your mind a 
doubi whether captain Sandon might 
not prevaricate and keep back certain 



343. 



papers !— No, not even an insinuation 
«n his part- 

Upon what day was it that captain 
Sanrlon informed you that he had not 
destroyed the paper, but had kept it 
back trom this House I — The day of his 
eommitment. 

What steps did you take in conse- 
quence of that conimiinication ' 1 

thouglit it my duty to inform Mr Adam 
and Mr. Lowten of the circumstance, 
and Mr. Harrison. 

Did you inform those gentlemen of 
the ciVcumstance ? — I did. 

At what time on that day did you in- 
form those gentlemen of it, and in what 
maimer ? — It was probably about five 
o'clockj it was when Mr. Adam came to 
the House ; 1 met Mr. Harrison com- 
ing to the House, and I went up stairs 
to Mr. Lowten ; the communication 
was made in tlie course of half an liour 
to those gentlemen, and probably about 
five o'clock. 

Are you quite certain that I (Mr. Ad- 
amj was present at tlie time you made 
thirt communication? — Totlie other two 
gentlemen ? — No, 1 spoke to the three 
gentlemen separately. 

Are you quite certain you made that 
communication to me (Mr. Adum) ? — 
Upon my honour 1 cannot speak decid- 
edly ; I either did, or thought I did, or 
desired Mr. Harrison to mention it to 
Mr. Adam ; I did not attach any impor- 
tance to the circumstance at the mo- 
ment, and it has not attached itself so 
to my mind as to state it precisely, but 
if not, I certainly desired Mr. Harrison 
to mention it to you. 

From the time that I (Mr. Adam) 
conversed with you at the Horse Guards 
on Monday the 5th of February, have I 
not avoided all intercourse or communi 
cation with you upon the subject oi the 
proceedings on this inquiry ? — So much 
so, that Mr. Adam has avoided speaking 
to me upon matters that did not relate 
to it. 

Did you desire Mr. Harrison to com- 
mvmicate this intelligence to anyperson ? 
I have already stated that I desired him 
to mention it to Mr. Adam. 
QThe witness was directed to withdraw. 

(^Tlie witness was again called in.] 

You did not communicate what j'ou 
knew concerning this note to Mr. War- 
die ? — 1 have not had any intercourse, 
nor have I any knowledge whatever of 
Mr. Wardle. 



Why should you communicate it to 
one side and not to the other i — I have 
had tlie honour of knowing Mr. Adam 
some years, and 1 conceived 1 could not 
go to a more honourable man, nor to a 
man on whose judgment I had a greater 
I'eliance than on Mr. Adam's. 

You have stated, that you were indu- 
ced to take a copy of the note in ques- 
tion by tiie advice which had been given 
to you by Mr. Adam ; what induced you 
to make an application to Mr. Adam 
upon that subject ? — I do not recollect 
making any particular application as to 
the note ; I stated the affair generally 
to Mr Adam, without dwelling more 
upon the note than any other part of the 
transaction. 

Why was there floating in your mind 
any idea of the necessity of copv ingthis 
noie ? — It is not a Vc-ry easy matter at an 
interval of three weeks to state the ideas 
that might have occurred to my mind 
at that moment ; perhaps I attached 
more importance to that paper, because 
it was tlie only paper that was said to be 
the hand- writing of tlic Duke of York. 

You must have had some reasons for 
consulting withMr. Adam respectjngthis 
paper ; state what they were. — 1 can 
oltewno particular reasons : lean assign 
no otlier reasons than those I have had 
the honour already to oHer to the house : 
my opinion of his honour, integrity, and 
public character were such, that I 
thought 1 could not do a more proper 
act than to lay the matter before him. 

You have statt d, that previotis to go- 
ing to the Hritish colVee house, you had 
an interview with the Chancellor of the 
Exchequer, at wiiat period was that ? — 
After I*' returned to Mr. Adam, and 
communicated to him that 1 had seen 
the note, he said that the most advisa- 
ble measure was, for Mr. Perceval to be 
informed of the wl'ole circumstance ; 
that lie would give me a letter, and de- 
sired that I would immediately go to 
Downing-street, and communicate the 
whole to Mr. Perceval ; which I did im- 
mediately, the Saturday morning, the 
first morning I was in town. 

This was previous to your going the 
first time to the British coftec -house ?— 
Previous. 

Did you at any time tell Mr. Adam, 
or the Chancellor of the Exchequer, 
that the note was destrojed ; and if so, 
when ? — I never had the honour of hav- 
ing any communication, either person- 



SH 



ally or in writing, with the Chancellor 
of llic Exchequer, after the moining al- 
luded to. With respect to Mr. Adam, 
I really cannot uring' the thing- iiome to 
ni\ recollection, whether I spoke to 
hiin personally upon the subject, but I 
certainly took m«.-asures that he might 
be informed of it, by acquainting M.r. 
Lowien or Mr. Harrison : it is impossi- 
ble for me to say precisely how I made 
the commim'.cation ; it might have been 
personally, 

Tiien you never saw the Chancellor 
of the Exchequer, except prior to your 
going the firsi timetotlie British coffee- 
house ? — I have seen him accidentally, 
but had no kind of communication with 
him wiiavever ; 1 have not had any sort 
or kind of communication with the 
Chancellor of the Exchequer since the 
Saturday morning alluded to. 

What niduced you to seek a commu- 
nication with the Chancellor of the Ex- 
chequer on that occasion ? — I conveyed 
Mr Adam's letter to him, as I have 
previously stated : I was desired by Mr. 
Adam to communicate lo the Chancel- 
lor of ihe Exchequer all that 1 knew. 

Do you recollect having come from 
Croydon to the Horse-Guards on Sun- 
day noon, the 5th of February ? — 1 re- 
mained in town on the Saturday, and 
therefore 1 did not come from Croydon 
on the Svmday, but I was at the Horse - 
Guards on Sunday, the 5th of February, 
atone o'clock. 

Do you recollect having a very short 
conversation with me (Mr. Adam) at 
the Horse-Guards ? — I do remember a 
few words passed only. 

Do you remember on that o' ^asion, 
stating to me (Mi. Adam) thatV ptain 
Sandon had informed you, the day be- 
fore, that he had destroyed the note ? — 
I do. 

When did you first hear of the note in 
tjueslion ? — The note was stated to me 
by captain Sundon to be in his posses- 
sion, together with other papers, in our 
first conversation at Portsmouth. 

State the whole of what passed be- 
tween captain Sundon and you upon th.at 
occasion ? — I will not undertake io state 
accurately or verbatim v>-hat passed ; I 
will give the purport of the conversation 
to the House, to the best of my recollec- 
tion. Capt.un Sandon; after reporting 
his arrival from Plymouth, where he 
bad landed with hi,'; troop, said, undoubt- 
edly I had read the newspapers, and 
had seen his naipe mentioned as having 



had something to do with these tran%« 

actions ; tiiai he wished to consult me 
as his colonel, what was the line of con- 
duct he should pursue, and that to ena- 
ble me to judge of i lie matter, he would 
give me all the information he possess- 
ed ; and that when lie came to town h& 
w^ould allow me to look at all the papers 
that were in liis custody. He began by 
stating, that he met with a gentleman 
(he did not name him, nor had I any 
curiosity to know wlio he might be) 
who talked to him on military matters, 
and who asked him whether he knew 
ofhcers who might have money, but wepe 
without interest to get promotion ; h^ 
said imdoubtedly there might be such 
persons in tlie army, btit at that moment 
he could not give any names, but that he 
would make inquiry ; that he afterwards 
met with a Mr. Donovan, who had serv- 
ed in general Tarleion's Legion in the 
American war, and had been wounded 
there. Mr. Donovan had been Surgeon 
to the supplementary militia, of which 
regiment he had been iieutenant-colonel; 
that he understood Mr. Donovan was 
endeavouring to negotiate the sale of 
commissions, and was, in short, whati^ 
called an army broker, and that he con- 
sidered hiin a very likely person to be 
able to point out the description of per- 
sons I have before stated. That subse- 
quently to that he met with colonel 
French at the house of amajor Pool,whQ 
is since dead, and who lived in Sloane- 
street ; that upon asking colonel French 
his motives for coming to town, having 
come from the country, he said, that he 
had come tip to endeavour to do himself 
service in the way of recruiting the ar- 
ni}. Captain Sandon then related to 
him wliat I have previously stated, that 
a gentlem;.n had promised him very 
powerful support, and that they had con- 
certed the rneasiire of raising a levy j 
that he saw a gentleman, and the terms 
were agreed tipon. I do not recollect 
the specific gums, but I think 5001. was 
lo be paid upon tiie measure being ac- 
ceded to on the part of his Royal High- 
ness the Commander in Chief ; that 
this matter went on for some time, and 
that he had not tlie remo est idea through 
wiiat channel the acquiescence to the 
request had been granted ; that the ap- 
plication liad been ix-gular and official, 
and the answers were official. Some 
time after this he had an application 
made to him respecting the promotion 
of captain Tonyn. Captain Tonyn was 



s^ 



talod^e, I believe 500' guineas' on being 
appointed to a m-.jonty. C:tptuin Tou\ n 
had bctii k.- pi ill suspcnce some time, 
and was d-esTous to withdraw his secu- 
rity. 1 should have previously stated, 
that he had lodged a security for the 
puNment of that sum ; that upon his 
having made this overture to witlulr iw 
tins security, captain Sandon received a 
note, which is tlie note in question, to 
say, that tlni promotion should noi go on. 
That sometime after, upon Capt.Tonyn 
findiiig he was not likel}' to gain the 
majority, he I'equcsted thai the thing 
might go on, and that lie would consent 
to \.he security remaining where it was ; 
that he then received a second note, to 
say that the promotion would goon, and 
mentioning the day it would be gazett- 
ed, and then he stated to me that both 
notes were in his possession ; but it is 
necessary 1 should add, that captain 
Sand<jn fully explained to me at the mo- 
ment, that the whole party had been de- 
ceived ; that they had been led to be- 
lieve that there was a certain influence 
by which those objects were to be ac- 
complished, which, ultimately, they 
found did not exist, and that it was not 
until considerable sums of money had 
been paid bv him thiougii the medium 
of another person, that he understood 
that influence was to beprocuredthrough 
the medium of Mrs. Clarke. 
£The witness was directed to withdraw. 

Mrs. MARY ANN CLARKE was 
called in, and examin^ by the Com- 
mittee, as follows : 
Have you brought with you the two 
last notes you received from his Royal 
Highness ? — What were mentioned in 
the summons did not purport to be the 
last notes. His Royal Highness did not 
cease corresponding with me after we 
parted. 

The notes, supposed to be the last, 
were that which first notified to you his 
Royal Highness' intention of separating 
from you, and the note he wroie imme- 
diately afterwards ? — Does his Royal 
Highness slate those to be the last notes 
that he sent to me ? 

I never hrard of any others. I have 
had many, more than fifty from him 
since that. 

Look at that paper, and state whether 
you recollect receiving a note to that 
effect from his Royal Highness — (The 
copy of a note being shewn Mrs. Clarke.) 
May I read this ? 



Certainly. (Mrs. Clarke read the 
note.) I do not recollect any thing about 
it ; it is very possible I might have re- 
ceived such a letter, and very possibly 
not. I liave been looking over all those 
letters I have for those he sent me on 
that day, and cannot find them. I know- 
he wrote one himself, and the other Mr. 
Greenwood wrote on that day, but 
which the Duke copied out, and sent t« 
me. 

Was the letter you did receive in Mr. 
Greenwood's hand writing in the same 
hand-writing as that ? — It is so long ago 
I cannot recollect, but it was the longest 
letter that Mr. Greenwood wrote ; it 
was a short note I had in the morning, 
and the longest I received in the even- 
ing ; it was written by Greenwood ; his' 
Royal Highness copied it, and sent it 
instead of coming to dinner. The letter 
I received was not in Mr. Greenwood's 
hand-writing, but I was told Mr.Gi'een- 
wood wrote it, and his Royal Highness 
copied it and sent it to me ; they were 
dining together. 

You were told Mr. Greenwood wrote 
it ?— Yes. 

By whom were you told ? — His Royal 
Highness' servant told it to my servants. 
1 waited dinner for his Royal Highness 
after I had seen Mr. Adam till ten 
o'clock, and sent down several times tu 
Portman -square to know whether he 
dined with me or not ; they said they 
fancied he dined with me, as he had or- 
dered no dinner. Betwceir eight and 
nine o'clock, Mr. Greenwood made hi.<; 
appearance in Portman-square, and they 
sat down to dinner, and after dinner 
Mr. Greenwood wrote tiiat letter, and 
his Royal Highness copied it, as I un- 
derstood. I have mentioned it in sev- 
eral of my letters since to his Royal 
Highness. I burnt the letter. 1 saw 
his Royal Highness afterwards in his 
own house that same night, but he ran 
away from me, after Mr. Greenwood 
liad left him. 

How long have you recollected that 
you burnt that letter? — Not till just now . 
I h-ave burnt many of his Royal High- 
ness' letters, and lost many of his love- 
letters ; those are the only letters that 
remain. 

How long do you recollect that you 
have burnt that letter ? — I cannot tell 
how long. I have recollected it ; I have 
many of his love-letters by me ; and 
wlien colonel M'Mahon mentions that I 
had many letters in my possession tha' 



346 



would make much mischief between 
his Royal Highness the Duke of York 
and the Prince of Wales. 1 have none, 
nor never mentioned that to him. 

How long have you recollected that 
you burned that letter ? — 1 cannot tell ; 
I was not certain that I had burnt it till 
I looked over my papers I never kept 
any thing- that was unpleiisant. 

Did you ever know Mrs. Favery by 
any other name but that of Favery ? — I 
have learned a great deal since last 
night. 

Were you ever acquainted with her 
when she went under any other name 
than that of Favery ? — No ; but I have 
lieard that she lias made use of my name, 
and more especially since last night, 
which has made me very unhappy in- 
deed, and I am afraid Mrs. Favery will 
be found to have told a great many sto- 
ries. I did not know that Mr. Ellis was 
a person that she lived with till she told 
mc after she got home, and I told her 
yesterday, it would be better to go to 
Mr. Ellis and tell him what she had 
done ; and then come forward to the 
House, asking his leave, and undeceive 
them as to what she had said. A day 
or two after she had been examined at 
tlie House, she told me he was not a 
car|)enter, but that he was a clergyman, 
and that she was afraid of bringing for- 
ward his name. 

It was not the same day ? — No, I had 
no opportunity of speaking to her the 
same day. 

How many days after having heard 
that she had made this misrepresenta- 
tion of Mr Ellis, did you desire iier to 
go and inform Mr. Ellis ; — She did not 
tell me what he was till yesterday morn- 
ing ; I then told her to get a hackney- 
coach and go down and ask the gentle- 
man leave to speak the truth, and when 
she came back last night, she tolH me 
she had been married, which I do not 
bfclieve ; 1 had heard of it before, but 
did not then believe it, and I parted 
with her in consequence at Gloucester- 
place, after telling his Royal Highness 
of it. 

It was not till yesterday she told you 
that she had misrepresented Mr. Ellis' 
situation in life ? — No, it was not. 

Wliat did she tell you, at first, with 
respect to her evidence ?^ — T do not re 
collect that she told me any thing about 
it ; I spoke to her some time afterwards, 
and asked her how she could tell stories 
about my having no company, for I was 



in the habit of having very large parties 
every day the Duke dined out ; and 
about having three cooks ; 1 never had 
three cooks, as I stated before, I only 
had a cook and his attendant. 

Wiien did Mrs Favery first live with 
you ' — Soon after I was married, but she 
has been in twenty places since. 

Did you give Mis. Favery a character 
to Mr. Ellis ? — Either me or my sister 
did ; or some one m the houae, 1 do not 
recollect which ; we came to town for 
the purpose, some one did. 

Were you in the habit of any intima- 
cy with Mrs. Favery at the time she 
lived with Mr. Ellis ? — No. 

Did you ever call upon her at Mr. El- 
lis* ? — i do not recollect thai 1 ever did ; 
I called to fetch her away once when I 
wanted her, I believe a hackney-coach- 
man fetched her and a young lady. 

Did you turn her away in Gloucester- 
place on account of her having been mar- 
ried ? — Yes, I did. 

How came you to turn her away in 
consequence of having heard that she 
had been married ? — Because I heard 
the man was a thief, and I had lost some 
soup plates, and they thought that he 
had stolen them ; he was a man of very 
bad character, and 1 heard tiiere were a 
great many stories ; and the Duke said 
it was better that she should go, and 
proper. 

How long was it after you turned her 
away that you took her into your service 
again ! — A year and a half full, I did 
not take her ag^ntill I wanted her very 
much. 

Has she only lived with you once 
since ? — No, only once since that time. 

How long has she lived with you now ? 
— Yes, I believe that Mrs. Nichols and 
she had a fight at Hampstead, and I 
parted with l^erihen, 1 did not recollect 
that ; and I found Mrs. NichoUs was 
just as bad as Mis. Favery, and I took 
her afterwards ; I found that there was 
no difference between the two, and Mrs. 
Favery is necessary to me ; she knows 
all my affairs, and I believe she keeps 
my secrets ; I have believed so till now, 
but now I am afraid not. 

How often, in the whole, has Mrs. 
Favery been in your service ? — Indeed I 
cannot tell, a great many times back- 
wards and forwards, because I had giv- 
en her several characters ; 1 never found 
her dishonest, and I have always given 
her a character to that efti?ct ; she lived 
eight or nine months in a family where 



347 



«1ie cooked for sixteen or seventeen, and 
they cf.ive her a verv g'ood character 
back 1. no another Himily. 

Did Mrs. Favery tell you tlie name of 
her husband ? — O yes, I have lieard of 
the man a hundred times ; and have seen 
his wife ; he is a married man. I saw 
his wife once wlieu his Royal Hig'hness 
was there ; a very vultjar woman came 
one day wlien I was at dinner, and said 
that I encouraged my maid servant in 
seducing a married man, and that she 
was his real wife ; I told her the woman 
was not in the house, that she had been 
dischauged, which was tlie truth ; and 
his Royal Highness ordered the servants 
to take her to some prison, which they 
did, and she was there two or three days 
for her bad behaviour. 

You are sure you only went to Mrs. 
Favery once when she lived with Mr. 
Ellis ;— Yes 

And that was in a hacknsy-coach you 
are sure ? — Yes, I am. 
fThe following Qiiestion and Answer 
being read to the witness.] 

'* Q. Did you ever receive a list 
of names for promotion from any 
other person than captain Hux- 
ley Sandon and Mr Donovan ? — 
A. I never received such a long 
list from any one, nor such a list ; 
I never received more than two 
or three names ; this I Iiad for 
two or three days ; it was pinned 
up at the head of my bed, and 
his Royal Highness took it down." 

Do you abide by that account ? — Yes, 
I do ; I never attended to any other ; I 
do not know what others may have been 
given me. 

How long was that list so pinned up ? 
—The second m irning his Royal Higli- 
ness took it down, drew up the curtain 
and read it ; and afterwards I saw it 
when he was pulling out his pocket- 
book some time afterwards, wlien one or 
two promotions had taken place, with 
his pen scratched through those names 
when he took out his pocket book to 
look at some other papers. I only make 
this remark, as I have heard a gentle- 
man on my right hand say that I had 
picked his pocket. 

Did this list remain Up one whole 
day, or was it taken down the next 
morning ? — No, it I'emained there I be- 
lieve. 



Was this list sjeen by any other person 
beside yourself and his Royal Highness? 
I suppose the maids that made the 
bed ; but perhaps they could not read, 
or did not understand it ; I do not 
know. 

You are quite sure his Royal High- 
ness read it ! — I am quite sure, he read 
it in m) presence, drew up the cui-tain, 
and afterwards came to me and made 
tlie remark, that he would do everyone 
by degrees, or make them, or to that ef- 
fect. 

Do you know that Mrs. Favery ever 
saw this paper ? — I am sure I do not 
know ; if she did, she knew nothing 
about it. 

Did you ever live with Mr. Ogilvy ?■— 
No ; I never lived with any man but the 
Duke of York. 

Did Mr. Ogilvy ever live with you ? — 
No, never ; Gen. Clavering called on Mr. 
William Ogilvy a few days ago, and ask- 
ed him whether he would come down 
here and speak against my character ; 
that he was instigated to ask him by 
Mr. Luwten. 

Are you acquainted with Mr. Ogilvy ? 
— Very well, both of them. 

How long ago have you been acquaint- 
ed with Mr Ogilvy ? — I cannot recollect. 

About how many years I — I cannot re- 
collect at all. 

Two years ? — Yes,certainly two years. 

Four years I — I do not know ; yes, 
four years. 

Six years ? — No. 

Have you not known Mr. Ogilvy six 
years. — No. 

You did not know him six years ago f 
— 1 do not think 1 did. 

How long did you know Mr. Ogilvy 
before you lived with the Duke of York ? 
— Only a few months. 

Did you know Mr. Ogilvy before he 
was embarrassed in his circumstan- 
ces ? — No, I did not. 

Before he failed ? — He was just fail- 
ing, and his books were made up, as I 
knew him. 

Was any thing owing from Mr. Ogil- 
vy to you at the time of this failure ? — 
No, nothing at all 

Were you examined as a witness in 
Mr. Ogilvy's bankruptcy ? — Yes, I was 
but I was living with the Duke of York 
at the time, though unknown to the 
world : there is a pamphlet going about 
now, but it is not true. gj. 

Since the date of your separ«ion from 



348 



*he Dute of York, hat-e you frequently 
had letters from his Royal Highness ? — 
Yes, I have. 

Can you by any one letter, substan- 
tiate that fact ? — Yes, I can, but they 
are not civil ones since I left him. 

Produce some one letter to substan- 
'liate that fact ? — I believe tliat I may 
have a little note or so, for tliey always 
consisted of short notes, in ansvv'er to 
some request of mine in some letter. I 
have brought down envelopes, to sliew 
that the note I have seen here is in the 
same sort of character as the notes, I 
have ; here are eight or ten in my 
hand. I iiave many notes I covUd shew 
since his Royal Highness and I have 
parted. 

Subsequent to the date of the separa- 
tion ? — Yes. 

Arc they dated ?— I believe some of 
them are, and perhaps there is one or 
two among tliese. 

Arc eitlicr of those notes signed ? — 
His Royal Higliness never signs any 
thing unless il is necessary ; here is his 
name to one of the notes ; it was mere- 
ly for his box at the play ; the\' are all 
his writing ; I have t:iken" the insidcs out. 

Is that which is signed, subsequent 
to the separation ? — No. 

Put in some one or more notes, as you 
shall think fit to select from those vou 
have, for the purpose of substantiating 
that fact ?— Here [three letters'] are some- 
thing I have pickrd out which I thought 
to be like the hand 1 saw here the other 
night ; I should wish to defiver them 
in, because I know they are exactly like 
what 1 Iiave seen here. 

Arc those you have here subsequent 
to your separation from the Duke of 
York ? — No, they are not ; unless one 
of them IS. 

Put in some one or more notes subse- 
quent to the date of the separation ? — A 
gentleman asked me feu* a seal or two 
when I was here the other niglit ; I 
should wish to put them in, because the 
story of a forgery going about is ex- 
tremely unpleasant. 

Are those pai)ers in the hand of the 
Clerk, the only ones you wish to put in ? 
— It is not the only one I wish to put in ; 
1 have many at home, but the ipside of 
that is what his Royal Highness has 
written to me since. 

Look at the outside and inside, for 
tlie purjlBsi.; of saying whether it is his 
Royal Highness' hand-writing. — They 



both are ; I have dates to some a* 
home. 

Do you wish to put in any fnore pa. 
pers ? — Yes, I wish to put in all these I 
have here. Here is another since his 
Royal Highness parted from me. 

Do you mean to assert, that that first 
note you have sent to the table, was 
written to you after yotir separation ?— 
Yes ; I do not say for the outside, be- 
cause they are confused ; but certainly 
the inside was, as the language wiU 
shew. 

Put in such papers as you ha*e now 
with you, which you are desirotis of 
putting in ? — I wsh to put in all these. 
\_de liver hig in several letters.^ 

Have you sufficiently examined all the 
papers you have put in, to be able to state 
that they are all the Duke of York's 
hand-writing ? — Yes, I have 

Can you discriminate such as were 
written before, and such as were written 
after your separation from the Duke of 
York ? — Yes, they are only mere enve- 
lopes to shew the hand-writing as near- 
ly as I could guess, what I saw here 
the other day ; and this is since the sep- 
aration. 

Will yon look at that, and say wheth- 
er it was written before or after the 
separati'in ? — This was written by the 
Duke of York some time after, when he 
sent me the 2001. to go out of town af- 
ter the separal-'on. 

Is the note which you have just now 
put in, and which you have just seert 
dated ? — No, it is not. 

Will vou produce some of those noteB 
with dates, which you say you have in 
your possession, which were written 
subsequent ?- I will do so. 

[Two notes, directed, " George Far- 
quliar, Esq." were read ; one begin- 
ning, " I do not know what you 
mean,"&c. Another,beginning "In- 
closed, I send vou the money," &C.3 
(No. 1.) 

" I do not know what you mean ; 
I have never authorized anybody to 
plague or disturb you, and there- 
fore you may be perfectly at your 
ease on my account-" 
(No. 2.) 

" Inclosed I send you the money 
which you wished to have for your 
journey." 

"Inclosed.mvDarlingreceivesthe 
note, as well as the money, which she 
should have had some days ag^o." 



349 



" My Darling' shall have the tick- 
et for the box the moment I go 
home. God bless you.'' 

Was it customary with the Duke of 
York to mix, in what you call love let- 
ters, any thing relative to military or ec- 
clesiastical promotions ? — I liardly know 
how to answer tliat question. 

Have you not stated that you had sev- 
eral letters, which you call love letters, 
from the Duke of York, in your posses- 
sion at present ? — Yes, I have, and sortie 
of my friends have. 

Is there any thing in any of those let- 
ters relative to military or ecclesiastical 
promotions ? — No. 

Has any person been present when 
you looked over your papers relative to 
t!ie subject of this inquiry ? — No, not 
over his letters. 

Has any person assisted you in look- 
ing over any otherpapers relative to this 
inqtury ? — I have never let any one look 
over any papers. 

Did you, when you lived in Glouces- 
ter-place, always pay your bills yourself, 
or did you sometimes pay them through 
the medium of your house -keeper ? — 
Sometimes myself, sometimes my house- 
keeper ; but the common tradesmen, 
such as butchers and bakers, I never 
paid myself. 

Who was that house keeper ? — Mrs. 
Favery. 

Did Mrs. Favery ever represent to you 
that the creditors were so clamorous, 
that she (M-s. Favery) was accused of 
having most likely secreted the money, 
by not paying it 1 — Yes ; but then I 
never minded what she said. 

Did Mrs. Favery represent the abso- 
lute necessity of the Duke of York's 
supplying you with money to pacify the 
creditors ? — Yes, of course ; if she was 
teazed by people, she teazed me. 

Did this often happen ? — She is the 
best judge. 

Were not the creditors often paid in 
consequence ? — Yes, if they were very 
clamorous. 

Were not those sums to a very con- 
siderable amount I — 1 do not know what 
is called considerable. 

Were they to the amount of lOOOl ? — 
She would speak of difl'erent tradesmen 
teazing for their bills, I do not know to 
what amoimt. 

Do you not know that bills were often 
paid, and to a large amount, in conse- 
quence of your applications to the Duke 
of York, upon the representations of 
4.5 



Mrs. Favery ? — No, he never paid a bill 
for me on its being so represented, .Jid 
I never had credit with any of liis peo- 
ple, nor never got money on his account. 
[Several letters were returned to Mrs. 
Clarke, their insertion in the min- 
utes not being considered material.] 
Do you recollect that, in the presence 
of Taylor, the Duke of York and your- 
self ever talked of military promotions I 
— I am sure 1 cannot say ; his Royal 
Highness did not mind what he said be- 
fore Miss Taylor ; he was very fond of 
her. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

Col. DIGBY HAMILTON was again 

called in, and examined by the com- 
mittee, as follows : 

Did captain Sandon state to you, that 
he had ever received any sum of money, 
from major Tonyn ? No. 

Did he state to you from whom he re- 
ceived the note ? — To the best of my re- 
collection, he staled that he had receiv- 
ed the note from Mrs. Clarke, or that 
it had been conveyed to him from Mrs. 
Clarke. 

When did you see that note ?— On the 
Saturday after I had my first communi- 
cation with Mr. Adam. 

Was that note wrapped up in a piece 
of paper, or accompanied with a piece 
of paper with another similar direction 
upon it ? — 1 do not i-ecoUect whether it 
was wrapped up in a piece of paper, 
bill captain Sandon shewed me part of 
the cover of a letter which had the Do- 
ver post-mark upon it, and requested I 
would look at the siitiilarity of the ad- 
dress of that letter with the note in 
question. 

When you were informed that this 
note was not destroyed, are you now 
certain whether you informed Mr. Adann 
or not ? — I can only repeat the reply I 
made to that question before : mv mind 
was impressed with the idea that I had 
informed Mr. Adam, or taken ettiectual 
measures that he should be informed of 
the circumstance. 

Are you certain that you informed 
Mr. Harrison ? — Yes. 

Why did you inform Mr. HarrrisonJ 
— Knowing that Mr Harrison was em- 
plovedonthe part of his Royal High- 
ness. 

How did you know that Mr. Hrrrison 
was so employed ? — From my having 
been frequently in the room wMien Mr, 
Harrison carae into it, where Mi-, tewr- 



hi'' 



350 



ten does liis business, in consequence of 
mv being- ordered to be in attendance 
upon the house. 

From whom did you learn that Mr. 
Harrison was employed as the agent of 
the Duke of York ? — From no particular 
person ; but it was impossible to be in 
tliat room, and not to observe that Mr. 
Harrison was so employed. 

Did you understand that Mr. Lowten 
was the agent of the Duke of York ? — 
Clearly. 

How did you learn that ? — From ob- 
serving' what passed in the room where 
Mr Lowten sat. 

Were you referred by any one to Mr. 
Lowten ? — I received a note from lieu- 
tenant-colonel Gordon, desiring my at- 
tendance upon this House, and that I 
was to call upon Mr. Lowten, whom I 
should find upon m;iking inquiry here. 
I received a note at Crovdon barracks, 
which induced my attendance. 

When captain Sandon shewed you 
the piece of paper wiih the Dover post- 
mark upon it, did he state to you how 
thai piece of paper came into his posses- 
sion ? — 1 do not recollect that he did ; 
it was merely to impress my mind that 
the letter and the note were directed in 
the same hand- writing ; 1 do not recol- 
lect any other conversation having pass- 
ed. 

How long have you been acquainted 
with captain Sandon ? — I have known 
captain Sandon since the year 1794, but 
captain Sandon has never been my ac- 
quaintance ; I have known him in my 
military situation only ; he sewed on 
the continent at the same period I did, 
but without having any intercourse, 
merely knowing him as captain Sandon ; 
•we did not serve in tlie same corps. 

Had you much intercourse with him 
In the years 1804 and 1805 ?— None 
whatever but what was strictly official. 

Did captain Sandon manifest any re- 
luctance in allowing you to take a copy 
of the note ? — None whatever ; it was 
done with his perfect conciu'rence. 

After he had stated to you that he 
had destroyed the note, did he say any 
tiling to you respectingthe copy you had 
talcen ? — He never alluded to it. 

Di|Cl captain Sandon shew you the 
other ii'te to which you have referred ? 
—Upon producing the note in question, 
I brought to his recollection tliat he said 
there were 1 wo notes in the conversation 
which took place at Portsmouth ; upon 



which he replied, that he must either 
have been mistaken, or if there had been 
a second note, he must have given it t» 
major Tonyn, to convince him that the 
promotion was to go on. 

Did captain Sandon explain to yoil 
what the contents of that note were, and 
by whom it appeared to be written ? — It 
w^ill appear in the former part of my 
testimony, that I stated to the House, 
that the second note was to convince 
major Tonyn that the promotion would 
take place, but he never stated to me 
that either of the notes were ^vlntten by 
the Duke of York, or by whom they 
were written. 

Why then did captain Sandon com- 
pare the first note with the envelope of 
the ietier ? — I have already stated, that 
he produced the envelope of the letter to 
convince me that the hand- writing of the 
note and the letter were by the same per- 
son ; he assigned no other reason for 
producing the part of the envelope ; it 
was not entire ; there might be half of 
it. 

For what purpose did yoti understand 
he wished to prove the two papers were 
of the same hand- writing, tmless he 
pointed out some person whose hand- 
writing he pretended it to be ? — I must 
state most unequivocally, that captain 
Sandon did not point out the hand-writ- 
ing to be the hand writing of any par- 
ticular person ; all that he wished to 
convince me was, that the two papers 
had been written by the same person, 
without any comment or observation be- 
yond what I have stated to the House. 

Were no comments made upon the 
post-mark from Dover ? He merely- 
stated, \ou will see that has the Dover 
post -mark upon it. 

At what period of your conversation 
with captain Sandon was it that you 
observed to him, if you did, that you 
thought the note appeared to be written 
by the Commander in Chief ? — I have 
never stated that I had made such a de- 
claration to captain Sandon, because n» 
such observation was ever made to me 
by captain Sandon. 

Did captain Sandon state from whom 
it w^as that he received the second note ? 
— 1 have already stated, to the best of 
my recollection, that he did not state 
precisely how they came into his pos- 
session, but I understood he received 
them from Mrs. Clarke personally, or 
through some other means from her ; I 



351 



ijcl not enter into those particulars with 
Wra. 

Both notes ? — Both notes. 

Have not you already stated that cap- 
tain Sandon appeared to think the note, 
of which you look a copy, was u note of 
some importance ? — It is impossible I 
cotild have stated any thing of tlic kind, 
because I have never stated captain San- 
don's opinions upon the subject at all. 

When you communicated to Mr. Ad- 
am what you knew concerning' this note, 
did you do it with an intention or expec- 
tation of its being made known to this 
House ? — 1 stated tiie circumstances as 
I have related them to the House, to 
Mr. Adam, with a view of liavmg his 
opinion, and that his judgment should 
be exercised upon the subject rather 
than my own ; i had not come to imy 
precise decision in my own nund how I 
was to act, and therefore I thought I 
could not conduct myself with greater 
propriety than to consult Mr. Adam, 
what line of conduct I should pursue. 

Am I right in my apprehension, that 
you have stated that }ou considered this 
note of iniportance to the inquiry that 
was going on ? — I have already stated to 
the House, that when 1 saw the note, 1 
believed it to be, according to the best 
of my judgment, the hand-writing of 
the Dtike of York, and therefore it was 
impossible that I should not attach very 
great importance to the note. 

After your communication with the 
Chancellor of the Exchequer, did you 
know that it was the Chancellor of the 
Exchequer's intention nottoproducethis 
npte to the House for some days ? — I hud 
no knowledge whatever of the intentions 
of the Chancellor of the Exchequer upon 
the business. 

I think you have stated that captain 
Sandon said that the usual channel .of 
promotion had failed, or that he and 
others had been deceived with regard 
to the influence which he expected to 
be exerted, but that another channel of 
promotion was opened, but at a consid- 
erable expense ; do you know any thing 
ofthe newchannel of promotion to which 
captain Sandon alluded ? — I believe that 
if a reference is made to my statement, 
nothing of the sort will appear ; I be- 
lieve I have stated to this honourable 
House, that captain Sandon informed 
me, that after considerable sums of mo- 
ney advanced by him for objects of pro- 

otion, they ultimately found the influ- 



ence supposed to exist on the part o£ 
Mrs. Clarke, did not exist, and that it 
failed on the proof ot Uial ; and that he 
never alluded to any new source op 
chaimel of promotion whatever. 

What other person was alluded to, in 
your opinion, when captain Sandon nn-n- 
tioned that ? — Captain Sandon alluded 
to the original person, but I have al- 
ready stated to the House, that my curi- 
osity was not excited to know who that 
person was, and he never informed me 
who w. s the intermediate person who 
received the money, and transacted the 
business. 

Did captain Sandon mention to you 
his intention of destroying i lie note ? — 
On the contrary, ?^a))tain Sandon prom- 
ised me that he would preserve ali the 
papers, and that he would follow the 
wiiole of the injunctions I had laid upon 
him. 

Did he ever mention to you he had 
destroyed it ? — 1 have already stated to 
the Hcnise, that in a conversation that 
look place between captain Sandon and 
m\self upon our le.ning-the Briti.sl'. cof- 
fee-house, he did state that he hi.d de- 
stroyed tlie note, and that I exclaimed. 
Good God ! you have done extremely 
wrong. 

, Did he mention to you what motive he 
had for destroying it ? — Captain Sundon 
has nexer mentuMied to me i.ny motive 
which can have actuated any part of his 
conduct. 

Did he ever mention that the con- 
cealment of the note would be a Ix lu fit 
to any person ? — Never. 

Did he ever mention that the produc- 
tion of it would be a prejudice to any 
person ? — Certainly not. 
QThe witness was directed to withdraw. 

WILLIAM HARKISON, Esq. was 
called in, and examined by the com- 
mittee, as follows : 
Are you agent, or counsel, to the 
Duke of York in this business ? — Cer- 
tainly not agent, nor can I call myself 
counsel 

Are you employed by the Dtike of 
York in any way ? — 1 was desired, in a 
very early stage of this business, to as- 
sist in any way in which 1 could assist, 
in advice or otherwise, but I did not 
understand that any counsel could ap- 
pear for the Duke of York, or that I was 
employed in that capacity. 1 am C(m- 
sulted by tliree of the military ofiices, 



the office of his Royal Highness the 
Commundcr in Chitf, the war office, 
and ilie barrack office, upon miliary sub- 
jec', in which it is necessary to consult 
a professioi.al gentleman, and was, I be- 
lieve, called upon to .issist in conse- 
quence of the knowledge that it was 
supposed I possessed of military sub- 
je s, as connected with legal consider- 
ation. 

Was it in consequence of so being 
called upon that you have attended con- 
stuiuly the proceedings of this House 
upon this business ? — Certainly. 

When did colonel Hamilton inform 
you that the note, purporting to be writ- 
tP'i b\ the Duke of York, and supposed 
to be destroyed, was not destroyed ? — It 
■wa.-i L»eiw<.'cii four and five, I believe to- 
Viuds five o'clock on the evening of the 
day on which captain Sandon was called 
in and commiltt d. I met colonel Ham- 
ilton in Parliament-stnet, 1 believe I 
•was walking at that time with the Soli- 
cit" ;r General ; he took me aside, and 
told rue that he had just heard, or heard 
tha' morning, I do not recollect which 
he SKid, that the note was not destroyed, 
but was still in existence. 

Did you take an\ steps in consequence 
of that information ? — I very shortly af- 
terwards, almost immediately (I cannot 
recollect whether 1 went a little further 
O'. ) came back to the House. Tiie com- 
m.itee, I believe, was sitting when I 
came in, and I inf )!med, I believe Mr. 
Huskisson, but I am not quite certain 
•whether it was Mr. Huskisson or an- 
other gentleman who was just coming 
into tlie House, that I had just received 
this information. 

Were you present in the House, after 
giving tliat information, at the proceed- 
ing on that night ? — 1 was. 

Was tins intormalion given before the 
statement made by the Chancellor of the 
Exchequer ? — Certainly, 
f The witness was directed to withdraw. 

WILLIAM HUSKISSON, Esq at- 
tending in his place, was examined 
by the committee, as follows : 
Did you receive the information with 
respect to tlie note from Mr. Harrison ? 
—1 did. 

What did you do in consequence ? — I 
received that information, 1 believe, a 
very simrt time before my right honour- 
able friend rose in his place to make a 
statement to ihis committee of what he 
had heard from colonel Hamilton on the 



subject of this note : I stated to him, I 
am told by Mr Harrison, that he has 
heard from colonel Hamilton, that the 
note is not destroyed ; and I believe I 
added, I think it can make no ddferenct 
whether it is, or is not, in the statement 
you have to make ; and in the examina- 
tion of captain Sandon, 1 certainly stated 
to my right honourable friend, that I had 
received this information from Mr. Har- 
rison, who told me he had received it 
from colonel Hamilton. 

Had you heard of this note before 
that ? — I had been informed by my right 
honourable friend, in confidence, of the 
account colonel Hamilton had given of 
this transaction, and of his intentions, as 
I believe other members were informed, 
to make the statement to the House. 

The Right Honourable SPENCER 
PERCEV Pi.Lf attending in his place, 
■was examined by the Committee, as 
follows : 

Would you wish to correct or alter any 
part of the evidence you gave on Holi- 
day, relative to this transaction ? — I do 
not recollect any part of the evidence I 
gave on Monday that I woidd wish to 
correct or alter ; if the noble lord, in 
consequence of the mtbrmation he has 
now collected, would wish to ask any 
other queston, I will give an answer. 

When you made the statement to this 
committee, of the destruction of this 
note, had you heard that the not.e was 
rot destroyed .' — When I made the 
statement to the committee, I had re- 
ceived such a communication as my hon- 
ourable friend has just mentioned, and I 
did in the statement that I made to the 
committee, if my recollection does not 
extremely fail me, state that I did by no 
means know whether the note was de- 
stroyed or not, and that statement I cer- 
tamU did make in consequence of the in- 
formation 1 hud but recently received ; 
for, except from that recent information, 
I had strongly impressed upon my mind 
that the note was destroyed. 

State who the perscms were to whom 
you had gi\en information respecting 
this note ? — I can state several, but I 
cannot undert;ke to be certain that lean 
state them all : I communicated it to 
the Solicitor General, to the Attorney 
General, to my lord Castlcreagh, to Mr. 
Canning, and I think I mentioned it to 
Mr. Yorke, and I am pretty confident 
that I mentioned it to others ; I men- 
tioned it likewise t» the Lord Chancel- 



353 



lor, I mentioned it to my lord Liverpool, 
and I menuoned it to Mr. Huskisson 
and Mr. Long, and they concurred in 
the opinion that Mr. Adam shoidd com- 
municaie it to some friends of his on tlie 
other side of ilie House ; and I believe 
thai to every one of the gentlemen whose 
names 1 have mentioned, I did state at 
the same time my opinion, that from the 
iirsi moment that I liad heard of the ex- 
istence of this note, 1 felt it to be my 
clear duty noi to be the depository of 
such A secret ; thai I formed tliat opin- 
ion upon the first day, that it was com- 
municated to me, before I understood it 
to be destroyed, and thai as soon as I did 
know that it was destroyed, which was 
the next day, 1 then communicated it 
to the dilferent persons that 1 have men- 
tioned, bul I believe tluit no person did 
know of lite existence of the note till I 
heard it was de-stroytd, except I believe 
the Lord Cliaucellor, when 1 had reason 
to believe it was in existence. Before I 
heard diat it had been destroyed, I de- 
termined to communicate tlie fact, so 
that the note if it was not destroyed, 
s)'ould be extracted b\ the evidence at 
the bar ; and wiien I heard that it was 
destroyed, 1 stiil contmiied to act upon 
that determination, and made that de- 
termination known. In the examina- 
tion that I made of the witness (Sandon) 
at the bar, " had in my mind, tiie whole 
time of that examinai:o'.i, the various 
points of fact which the witness had 
communicated to colonel Hamilloii, and 
if the witness had not ai lasi confessed 
that the note was not destroyed, I should 
unquestionably have asked liim, wheth- 
er lie had not communicated to colonel 
Hamilti n, that very morning, that it was 
not destroyed. 

\V ILLIAM ADAM, Esq. attendlngin 
his place, was examined by the com- 
mittee, as follows : 
Did you receive from colonel Hamil- 
ton, or Mr. Harrison, any information 
tliat this note was not destroyed ? — I 
certainlv received no information from 
colonel Hamilton that this note was not 
destroyed ; 1 cannot take upon myself to 
recollect, waetiier I received the infor- 
mation that it was not destroyed from 
Mr. Harrison or Mr. Huskisson ; but 
much about the same time that Mr. 
Huskisson has stated himself to have 
received that information, I became pos- 
sessed of that fact. I wish to state. 



that the circumstances which have been 
stated by Mr. Perceval respecting the 
determination to communicate, from the 
first moment of our intercourse upon 
that subject, was my determination as 
well as his. I wish further to slate, 
that as soon after the note was reported 
to me to have been destroyed asd could 
possibly make the communication, I 
made the communication to the gentle- 
men whom I mentioned before, lord 
Henry Peltv, general Fitzpalrick, and 
Mr. Whilbread : I wish to add, that I 
mentioned it to those gentlemen, as 
Mr. Whilbread stated, on the Monday 
preceding captain Sandon's first exami- 
nation, and that on the day preceding 
his second examination, I mentioned it 
to my learned friend sir Arthur Piggott, 
and to my learned friend Mr. Leach. 

Rev. JOHN JOSEPH ELLIS, was 

called in, and e.xununed by the Com-. 

mittee, as follows : 

You are a clergyman ? — I am. 

In what situation of life are you ? — 
One of the masters of Merchant Taylors 
school 

Do you know a person of the name of 
Favery : Mrs. Favery ? — Not by that 
name. 

By what name do you know a person, 
who has presented herself at this bar as 
Mrs. Faverv ?— Elizabeth Farquhar. 

Did she live in vour service .' — 
Yes. 

To whom did you a])ply for the char- 
acter of Mrs. Faiquhar, before she came 
into' your service ? — To Mrs. Clarke. 

Mrs. Clarke, who has been examined 
here this evening* ? — Yes. 

Where did Mrs Clarke live at the 
time you applied for Mrs. Farquhar's 
character ? — In Golden -lane. 

Do you recollect the year in which 
Mrs. Farquhar came into your service ? 
— It was in the beginning of July in the 
year 1800, and, with the exception of 
three months, she liyed in my, family 
two years. 

You were not, at that time, a carpen- 
ter ? — By no means, I was not. 

Did you apply to Mrs. Clarke for the 
character of this servant ? — 1 did. 

Can you recollect what name you 
represented to Mrs. Clarke the servant 

stated to belong to her I Elizabeth 

Farquh.ir. :' ' 

Are }ou certain that you asked Mrs. 
Clarke "for the character of a servant 



'■M 



354 






who called herself Elizabeth Farquhar ? 

—Certainly. 

Did you ever know of Mrs. Clarke 
calling upon Mrs. Farquhar, wliile she 
continued in your service I — Yes, re- 
peatedly. 

Did Mrs. Clarke come in a carriage 
or on foot to see Mrs. Farquhar ? — I 
rather think on foot, 1 never observed a 
can'iage. 

Did she stay any time with her, when 
she came there ? — Sometimes half an 
hour, sometimes an hour. 

You say frequently ; can you say whe- 
ther it was eight or ten times in the 
period of her living with you ?— 1 shoidd 
think full that. 

Did she come to visit Mi-s. Farquhar 
as an acquaintance, or i\n- vvhai pin pose 
did she come ? — Her visits appeareil to 
me to be very familiar, prmcipally in the 
morning. 

Did you imderstand whether there 
■was any relationship bt;twtcn Mrs. 
Clarke and Mrs. Farquliar ? — From the 
familiarity that subsisted between ihem 
I surmised as much 

Did you live in the same place during 
the time Mrs. Farquhar lived with you, 
or did you change your residence ? — 
I have lived in my present residence 
fourteen years. 

Then, during Ihe whole time Mrs. 
Farquhar was living with you, your 
town residence was constantly where it 
is now ? — Where it is now. • 

Had you occasion, while she lived 
■with you, to take yoih" family to the sea- 
side I'or their health ? — Only once while 
she lived with me. 

Did you go with your family upon that 
occasion ? — I did. 

, Did you leave your family there, or 
come baqk with them ? — I went with 
them, and returned with tliem. 

You stopped with Uiem the whole 
time ? — Yes, and returned with them. 

Was Mis. Farquhar with you.lduring 
the whole time I — She was witli^e dur 
ring the whole time. .,5^|''^'7>' 

Had you any reason to kftpwr^from,, 
•,Mr.s. Farquhar whether she was aTnar- 
ricd or a single woman, at the. tiriite slie 
lived with you ? — 1 considered her a 
single woman, and had no reason to sup- 
pose the cont rary. 

Had you any reason to know from her ' 
whether she had a ifnothcrliving at the ' 
time ? — I know she iiad a motlier living, 
because she left mv service alter she 



had been in my family a tvelve-month, 

for tlic space of tiuee momlis, to nurse 
her mother, who w..3 reported to be 
very ill. 

Had you any means of knowing 
where her mother lived at the time 
Mrs. Farquhar was in }our family ? — I 
know it Was somewhere about Tavis- 
tock place i but where 1 did not ascer- 
tain. 

From whom did you learn that ? — 
From Elizabeth Farquhar herself 

That she lived near ravistockplace ? 
—Somewhere in tint neighborhood. 

Have yoti seen Mis. Farquhar lately I 
— I saw her last mght. 

What occasion had you for seeingher 
last night I — .She called upon me, and 
requested particularly to see me ; and 
tile moiivc of her visit was, that she felt 
herself extremely ashamed, and much 
hurt, that she had mentioned my name 
in the manner that she had done ; and 
further to say, that she did not know 
how to appear belore this honourable 
House this evening, because you would 
not give her any credit for what she 
might state hereafter. I would further 
add, that she observed it was from mo- 
tives of delicacy siie withheld my name 
and my place of residence, and being 
taken by surpi^ise. 

Delicacy to whom ? —Delicacy to my 
family. 

Did she say it was out of delicacy to 
your family she mentioned you to be a 
carpenter ? — She stated, that she felt 
particularly ashamed that she had stated 
what she had velative to my profession. 

Did you learn from her that she knew 
you had been summoned to be a witness 
at this House ? — She knew it from read- 
ing the paper yesterday. 

. Did she inform you that she knew it ? 
—Yes, she did. 

What did your family consist of at the 
time you went to the sea-side ? — At that 
time' my family consisted of three child- 
ren. 

Was your wife alive ? — Yes. 

She went with you J — Yes, she ygnt 
Avith me. ' ' "' .' ^ 

Were you ever present lat any of tlie 
visits you described to have happened 
between Mrs. Clarke and Mrs. Farqu- 
har ? — Never. • 

How then does it happen that 'you 
know that great familiarity passed be- 
tween them ?— Though I have not been 
present in the room with them, I have 






sss 



seen them meet togetl^er at my door, 
and the \ haveiuldrcssed each other with 
great familiarity. 

Have you seen that Mrs. Clarke late- 
ly ? — This evening in the lobby, but not 
to speak to her. 

That is the same Mrs. Clarke who 
used to visit this Mis Farquhar ? — Tlie 
very same- 

Has Mrs Farquhar been in your fam- 
ily at any period since tliat time ; — Not 
since she left my service in the month 
of May 1802. 

In wliat situation in your family did 
Mrs Farquhar live ? — As nursery -maid. 

Have }()U seen Mrs. Farquhar here ? — 
I saw her pass tln-ougli the lobby this 
evening ; but not to speak to lier. 
([Mrs. Favery was called in. 

Mr. Ellis- — This is Mrs. Farquhar. 

Mrs. FAVERY was examined by the 
Committee, as follows : 

Is that the Mr. Ellis whom you repre- 
sented as a carpenter the other night ? — 
Yes, it is ; I had no other motive in dis- 
guising Mr Ellis than my respect for the 
family, to bring a gentleman from the 
pulpit to the bar. 

What is your name ? — My name is 
Favery. 

How long- have you been called b||the 
name of Favery ? — Always. 

Have you not been called by any 
other name ? — 1 took her name by Mrs. 
Clarke's permission ; I asked her if I 
might, and she said yes, 1 miglit take 
that name if I pleased . that 1 might get 
more resjiect sliewn me. 

When was that ? — Some years ago. 

How long ago ? — Ten years ago ; it is 
j!>,between six and seven years ago since I 
lived with Mr Ellis. « 

How'hmg liave you been acquainted 
with Mrs. Clarke ?— Ever since she was 
married. 

How long is that ? — It is twelve or 
thirteen yeai-s ago ; 1 cannot exactly say. 

Were you in Mrs. Clarke's service 
when you desiiecl you might take her 
name ? — Yes, I was. 

And that yoit might gain mor^ res- 
pect, she told you to take her family- 
name when you were living in her ser- 
vice ? — Yes. 

Had you ever taken that name before ? 
—No. 
^ What name did you go by before ? — 
i;fAl"ways my own name. 



What was that name ? — Favery. 

How long is it that you have droppdtt 
the name of Farquhar, and taken to the 
more ordinary name of Favery \ — I am 
not obliged to answer those questions i 
I did not come here on that account. 

[The chairman directed the witness 
to answer the question. 

How long is it that you have dropped 
the ni,me of Farquhar, and taken to the 
more ordinary name of Favery ? — I might 
take it if I pleased ; I was not forced to 
take Mrs. Clarke's name ; she told me 
I might if I pleased, and I did it. 

When did you drop the name of Far- 
quhar, and take again the name of Fa- 
veiy ? — When I went back to Qlouces- 
ter-pl:;ce. 

Was that that you might have more 
respect from the name of Favery, or out 
of delicacy to Mrs Clai'ke's family ? — 
More to Mrs. Clarke's family than to' 
myself. 

I think you just told me, that in Mr,5. 
Clarke's family it was, that for the sake 
of huving more respect you dropped the 
name of Favery, and took the name of 
Farquiiar ? — That was to go to Mr. El- 
lis' ; it was when I went there ; and 
when I went back to Mrs. Clarke, I told 
you my name was Favery. 

Was it not to disguise from the fami- 
ly of Mrs. Clarke that yoin- name wns 
Farquhar, that you took the name of 
Favery ? — No, I had no cause to disgidse 
myself in any point whatever ; I ha%e 
never done any thing that I was asliam- 
ed or afraid of ; I hadno cause to disguise 
myself in any point whatever. 

Where does your father live ? — In his 
grave. 

Where did he live ? — In Scotland. 

What name did he go by ? — Favery.- 

Has your mother married since yout 
father died ? — My mother is dead. 

How long is it since she is dead? — 
Some years ago. 

How many years ago ? — I cannot re- 
collect such questions as that put to me. 

Did your motiier die before your fath- 
er ? — No, my father died first, and my 
mother afterwards. > 

Were you come to England before 
your mother died ? — Yes. 

Were yoti in Mr. Ellis' service before 
she died ? — Noi 

Did you ever go to see your mother 
when you were in Mr. Ellis' sei'vice ?— - 
No, I did not. 

Did you continue in Mi'. Ellis' s>" ■- 



35B 



vice fi'Om the first time you went into it 
tilllhe last time you quitted it, without 
interfuption ? — I went away from Mr. 
Ellis' ; Mrs. Clarke came for nie in a 
coach, with hersister,anddesire4me to 
come to her child, which was ill, Miss 
Mary Ann ; I went up to Hamp^tead to 
her ; 1 said to Mr. Ellis that I wished 
to go away. He said, for what reason ? 
— I said my mother was ill, and I wish- 
ed to leave ; that was not so ; but I did- 
not wish to offend Mr. Ellis ; and 1 went 
to Mrs. Clarke again, and staid with her 
some time, and then went back to Mr. 
Ellis'. 

And you told Mr. Ellis when you went 
back, you had been nursing your sick 
mother ? — Yes. 

Who was it you used to visit near 
Tavistock-place, when you were with 
Mr. Ellis ? — I never visited any body 
there while I was with Mr. Ellis ; 1 did 
not know Tavistock place at the rime. 

Who was it you tised to represent to 
Mr.Ellis as your mother, that you want- 
ed to go and see when you wanted to 
go out ? — Mrs. Clarke and her children, 
and no one else ; and if she was here, 
she would represent the same. 

Yoti represented that as a visit to 
your mother ? — Yes, because I did not 
wish to tell him I was going there. 

You told liim your mother's name was 
Mrs Farquhar '—1 did not tell him, be- 
cause he never asked me. 

Where did Mrs. Clarke live at that 
time r — At Hampstead. 

Not in Tavistock-place? — No, she did 
not ; and I did not knowTavistock place 
at that tinic. 

Did you use to tell Mr.Ellis you were 
going to H.impstead ? — Only once, and 
he gave me leave to go. 

Where did you use to tell him you 
were going to ? - I never told him any 
where ; he never pui those qiiestionsto 
me ; it was not above once a month, or 
«nce in six weeks that I did go out. 

Did yi-iu ever live with Mrs Clarke in 
Tavistock-place ? -I lived with her 
mother, and she lived ther;e too some 
time after that. 

Are you any relation of Mrs. Clarke's ? 
— That is not a question to put to me 
upon the business. 
[jThe chairman directed the witness to 

attend to the questions, and to answer 

them in a manner becoming the dig- 
nity of tlic Committee. 



Are you any relation of Mrs.Clarke's ? 
—No, I am not a reialion to her. 

What objection had you to answer 
that question i — Because I think there 
is no reason to put me such questions an 
that, that are not upon the business I 
was brought here upon. 

Did j'ou never tell any body that you 
were a relation of Mrs. Clarke's ? — No, 
I do not think that 1 ever did. 

Can you have any doubt of that r — Yes j 
I can. 

How came you to doubt about it ? — I 
lived with Mrs. Clarke, to be sure ; I 
ki'ow what you want fo bring forward, 
and I will bring t forward mxself; I 
suppose about my being married to Mr. 
Walmcsley. 

If you have any thing to bring forward 
about Mr. Walmesley, 1 shall be very 
glad to hear it. — I was married to this 
man, and I married in the name of Far- 
quhar ; he was a married man, and I 
W')uld not live with him ; he h.ad a wife 
before me, and I never cohabited with 
him when I k'-ew of it. 

How came you to marry him in the 
name of Farquhar ? — I spoke to Mrs. 
Clarke upon it, and said, I am going to 
be married ; she said, to whom ? — I said, 
to a coal-merchant ; which I thought he 
was at the time, but 1 was deceived ; 
she iaid, I would not have him ; I said, 
I will, and I was married to him. I 
married in the name of Farquhar. 

How came you to marry in the name 
of Farquhar ' — Because I had left Mrs. 
Clarke ; she had not any money to give 
me, and she said if I could get anything 
upon credit, 1 might take it in her moth- 
er's name, and so I did ; and I took bills 
in the name of Mrs. Farquhar, and Mrs. 
Farquhar paid them. 

Win iwvas this ? — Three years ago ; I 
left Mrs. Clarke at the time. 

It was upon that occasion Mrs. Clarke 
permitted you to take the name of Far- 
quhar ?— No, before that she permitted 
me, I assure you. 

Then you went by the name of Far- 
quhar before you married ? — Yes, I did. 

How long did you live with your hus- 
bantl ? — Four months ; no longer. 

Did you never represent to your hus- 
band that vou were related to Mrs. 
Clavkt ?— No, I never did. 

That you are positive of ? — Yes, I 
never did, indeed, do thai, bt cause he 
asked me several times, and I told him. 



3$r 



no, though I went by tliat name I was 
not relaUfd to Mrs. Clarke. 

How came tl)e real Mrs. Farquliar to 
pay so many bills for you which you 
drew in her name ?— -Because I lived 
with her daughter, and she g^ave me no 
money ; I never had above 101 of her in 
my life ; I liad onl\ l(Jl. of her all the 
time she lived with his Royal Highness 
in that house. 

Did Mrs. Clarke never pay you more 
than 101. for all your services ? — No ; 
once, she gave me 51. but never more than 
151. altogether during the time she lived 
with his Royal Higlmess. 

But before the time she lived with his 
Royal Higlmess ? — Yes, then Ihavebeen 
paid very well, but I did not live always 
with Mrs. Clarke. 

You are not Mrs. Farquhar's daugh- 
ter ? — No, 1 positively am not Mrs. Far- 
quhar's daughter. 

Are you not Mrs. Farquhar's husband's 
daughter by a former wife ? — I cannot 
answer you that question, but I am not 
the present Mrs. Farquhar's daughter, I 
can assure you. 

Cannot you answer that question ? — 
No, I cannot, indeed. 

Why cannot yon answer it ?— Suppos- 
ing I did not know "my mother nor my 
father ; I cannot answer to that ; I can- 
not tell what they did with me when I 
was young ; I cannot answer such a 
question as that, it is impossible. 

How old were you when your father 
died ?•--! am sure I cannot tell you ; I 
do not know my own age now. 

Were you an infant when your father 
died ?— I believe I was ; I did not know 
my own fitther. 

Nor your mother ? — I do not know 
that I knew my mother. 

Which died first?— I believe my father 
died first, as far as I have heard ; I can- 
not say to it. 

Did you know your mother ?--! did 
not know my mother. 

Did your father marry again ?--I can- 
not answer to that question ; I do not 
know. 

Do yon mean to say you do not know 
whether your father married ^gain I — 
No, I cannot answer that question. 

Did you ever hear Mrs. Farquhar say 
that you were the dauglUer of her htis- 
b.and by a former wife ?— No, I never 
did. 

But you will not jstate that you were 
not the daughter of Mrs. Farquhar's hus- 
band by a former wife i---I cannot say 
4§ 



any thing abotit it, but I can say I am 
not this .Mrs. Faiquhar's dauglitei" ; that 
1 can answer to. 

Did you know .that Mr. Walmesley 
was summoned to be a witness at this 
bar to-night ?---No, I did not know it. 

You had not heard so ?— No, 1 have 
not been told so. 

Have yon not seen it in the paper ?— 
Indeed I have not seen the paper to-day, 
nor yesterday neither. 

Did you happen to know that Mr. 
Ellis was summoned as a witness ?— 
Yes. 

How did you know that ?--I went to 
beg his pardon ; 1 did not wish to bring 
him into it all, because I thought it was 
quite unnecessary to bring him in. 

Did you know that Mr. Ellis was sum- 
moned to be a witness at this bar ?— 
Yes, I knew that he was summoned to 
be here. 

Do you mean that you did know, or 
that you did not know ?-- I did know, 
because I went to Mr. Ellis last night. 

Did you know before you went to him 
last night ?--I was told that he was in 
the paper, and I said I was vei*y sorry 
that he should be put into the paper oil 
ray account. 

Wlio told you so ?--My mistress. 

Mrs. Clarke told you so ?— Yes, I had 
no motive whatever for disguising Mr. 
Ellis, but only his family. 

Had you told Mrs. Clarke you had 
represented Mr. Ellis to be a carpenter ? 
— -1 told Iver last night. 

Not till last night !— Yes. 

Are you quite sure you did not tell 
Mrs. Clarke before last night ? — I told 
her I had so represented Mr. Ellis ; she 
said, why did you do it ? I said I did not 
wish to bring him forward in the House. 

If you had represented him to be a 
clergyman, and represented your story 
truly, how would that have brouglit him 
forward ? — I had no motive whatever for 
it, but to screen Mr. Ellis. 

Do you mean to say, that the wish to 
so'een any person is a sufficient reason 
with you for representing the fact dif- 
ferent than the truth ? — That was my 
motive, and no other, to keep Mr. Ellis 
out of the paper. 

Do you mean to say, that the wish to 
screen any person is a sufficient reason 
with \ou for representing the fact diHier- 
ent than the truth ? — Yes, 'hat was it ; 
I wished to screen Mr. Ellis in every 
point. 

Do vou recollect how often Mrs. 



358 



Clarke called upon you while you were 
livinij vvllh Mr. blllis ? — I believe once, 
and her sislcr Miss Isabel Faj-quhar. 

Only once ? — No. 

Arc you sure of that ? — Once Miss 
Ta\lor called upon me, and Mr. John 
Clarki's wife ; 1 never haU any body 
but twice there. 

Never any body called upon you but 
thesi- four persons ? — No, I do not re- 
colli. ct any body else calling upon me. 

Did Miss Taylor call upon you alone ? 
—No, there was Mr. John Clarke's wife 
with her. 

VV.IS that the Miss Taylor who has 
bcei^ liere ? — Yes. 

Did she come upon a visit to you ? — 
No, she only called to see me, and to 
tell me Mrs. Chirke wanted to see me 
as soon as possible ; I told her I could 
not come oni. 

Did you know Miss Taylor before she 
called upon yon ? — O. yes. 

How long have you known her ?— 
Nine or ten years ; she lived at Bays- 
water, and they had a Iiouse in Orniond- 
street. 

Do you recollect Mrs. Clarke's ever 
Hvinj^- with a person by the name of Og- 
ilw ? — Not to my knowledge, shs never 
did. 

Did you know such a person ? — I have 
seen him ; a lusty gentleman ; 1 have 
seen him in Tavistock-place,two or three 
times. 

Had you any character given you 
when vou went to live with Mr. Ellis ? 
—Yes." I had. 

B\ whom w'as the character given ? — 
Mrs. Clarke or her sister ; 1 do not 
know which gave it. 

Under what name was that character 
given ?--In the name of Farquhar. 

Was the person whom yon represent- 
ed as Mr. Ellis, that \ou lived with as a 
carpenter, the person whom you also re- 
presented as keeping a linen draper's 
shop at the other end of the town .' — I 
never represented such a thing. 

Did you represent tiiat Mr. Ellis to 
keep a shop ? — Yes. 

Then is that statement that yovi made 
wholh untrue, and a fabrication of your 
own ? — It is qnite untrue that he was a 
car penter, he was a gentleman ; but I 
did not wish, as I have before said, to 
bring him forward j it was a fabrication 
of tny own doing, on purpose that I 
would not brio!:; him forward. 

Was it a f.ihrication as to the state- 
ment that be kept a shop I — He never 



kept a shop, to my knowledge ; he Is a 
gentleman, as I have told you before. 

Do you now recollect in what street 
he lived ? — I did not know last night 
when I went there ; I was two or three 
hours finding the place out ; though I 
h.ad a coach to Cheapside, I could not 
find it out when the coach put me down ; 
I never was at Mr. Ellis' since 1 left 
him till now. 

How long in truth did you live with 
Mrs. idlis ? — I believe, as near as lean 
say, two years ; I lived with him twice. 

During the time you lived with Mr. 
Ellis, did he change his residence ? — No, 
never. 

You are quite sure of that ? — Yes, I 
am quite sure of that, because I found 
him where 1 left him. 

Were you sent with tlie children ta 
Brighton, or to the sea-side, by your- 
self ? — No, 1 went with Mr. and Mrs. 
ElUs there : I went to Hampstead by 
myself with the children, when they had 
the measles, by Mr. and Mi-s. Ellis' or- 
ders ; but I did not mention that before ; 
I never thought of it. 

You have said, that your father lived 
in Scotland ; in what part of Scotland ? — 
I do not know in what part he lived. 

You have stated, that you did not wish 
Mr. Ellis to know where you were going 
when you went to Mrs. Clarke's ; what 
was your reason for wishing thai ? — I 
had no motive, only people do not like to 
have their children taken about ; not 
that I suppose Mr. Ellis had any reason 
to suppose I should do any thing with 
his children, or any thing tliat would 
hurt them. 

Can you recollect where you were 
married ? — Yes. 

Where ? — At Woolwich church. 

By the name of Farquhar ? — Yes, It is 
three years ago. 

Have you any relations in town ? — I 
do not know that I have any relations, or 
any acquaintance ; hardly two ; I keep 
no com])any, I hardly see any one. 
[The w itness was directed to withdraw. 

CHARLES GREENWOOD,Esq. was 

called in, and a copy of letter being- 
shewn to him, he was examined as 
follows. 
Is tliat in your hand-writing ? — Yes, 

it is. 

Do vou know what that paper is ? — 

Yes, I do. 

State to the committee what it is ? — 

It is a copy of a letter written to Mris 



350 



Clarke, after the Duke had separated 
from Iier. 

Written by whom ? — By the Duke of 
York. 

Did you take this copy from the orig- 
inal letter so sent ?---! did. 

You perfectly recollect that this is a 
correct copy of the contents of the letter 
so sent ?- -1 conclude it was, 1 believe it 
is a correct copy ; I do not recoUett 
comparing it with the original after- 
wards. 

You copied this, in your own hand- 
writing, from the Duke's letter .'-Yes, 
I did. 

(]The latter was read ] 

" You must recollect the occasion 
" which obliged me, above seven months 
*' ago to employ my Solicitor in a suit 
" with which I was then threatened on 
" your account ; the result of tjiose in- 
" quiries first gave me reason to form an 
" unfavourable opinion of your conduct ; 
" you cannot thertfore accuse me of 
" rashly or hastily decid.ng- against you : 
" but after tiie proofs which have at last 
*• been brought forw^ard lo me, imd 
" which it is impossible for you to co:i- 
" trovert, I owe it to my own character 
" and situation to abide by the resolu- 
" tion which I have taken, and from 
" which it is impossible for me to re- 
" cede. An interview bet ween us must 
" be a painful task to both, and can be 
" of no possible advantage to you ;— I 
*' therefoi'e must decline it. 

" May, 1806." 

" Copy of a note supposed to have been 
" written by the D " 

Do you recollect the date of that let- 
ter ?— Indeed I do not. 

You have stated that it was after the 
separation, how long afterwards ?— Im- 
mediately. 

Is that docket at the back of it, your 
hand- writing .'---No, it is not. 

Was this letter written at the period 
of the separation, to announce the sepa- 
ration, or subsequent ?— It was upon the 
separation, immediately after ; I believe 
his Royal Highness never saw her af- 
terwards. 

Had he been in the habit of seeing her 
up to the time when this letter was 
written ?---I really do not know that, I 
rather think that within three or four 
days he had seen her. 

At whose desii'e was the copy of that 



letter taken ?— At his Royal Highness' 
desire. 

Has it been in your possession ever 
since ?-- I have never seen ittill to-night, 
I believe, from the time I took the copy. 

Do you know in whose possession it 
has bei n ?--] really do not. 

To whom did you give it afterhaving 
taken a copy of it ?-- I left it with the 
Duke of York. 

\_A letter sent by Mrs Clarke siixe she 
left the Ilmise, 6eii:g shewn to the wit- 
ness'] Do you believe tiiat. to be the 
Duke of York's I sand -writing ?--I be- 
lievf it IS. 

Will you look at the address of that, 
do yon know that hand-writing ? -No, 
1 do not at all. 

[ The luitiiess looked at another tetter"] 
Wliose hand writing is th.at ?-• I think 
this s 'he same band-writ'Ug as the- last. 

[^Another letter being shewn to the wit- 
ness] Do you believe that to be the 
Duke of York's hand-wriling ? — I be- 
lieve it is. 

\_Anotuer letter being shewn to the ivit' 
ness] D* yon believe that to be the 
Duke of York's hand writing ? — I think 
that is the same lumd- writing. 

Do you know geuer.tl Clavering's 
hand-writing ! — No, I do not. 

[Tlie following letters were read :] 

" Without being informed to what 

'• amount you may wish for assistance, 

" it IS impossible tin- me to say how far 

" it is in my power to be of use to you. 

" Friday morning." 

Addressed : 
" Mrs. Clarke, 

" No. 9, Old Burlington. street." 

" If it could be of the least advantage 
"to either of us, I should not hesitate 
*' in comphing with \onr wisii to see 
" me ; but as a meeting must, I should 
" think, be painful to both of us, nnder 
" the present circumstances, I must dc- 
" cline it. 

Addressed : 
" Mrs. Clarke, 

" No. 18, Gloucester-place, 
" Porlman-square." 

October 21, 1806. 
" It is totally out of my power to be 
" able to give you the assist.ince which 
" you seem to expect. 

"Oct. 21, 1806. SE. 

A 24 
806 



\ Addressed ; 

" Mrs. Clarke, Southampton. 
" 1 I 4 

" I enter fully into your sentiments 
" concerning' your children, but cannot 
*' undertake what I am not sure of per- 
" forming. 

" With regard to Weybridge, 1 think 
" that you had better remove your fur- 
*' niture, and then c/irec? the person who 
" was employed to take the Mouse, to give 
" it up again. 
Addressed : 
" Mrs. Clarke, 
" No. 18, Gloucester-place, 
" Portman-square." 

CTo Mr.GreetmoodJ Were you in the 
frequent liablt of copying his Royal 
Highness' letters ? — No. 

Did his Royal Highness give you any 
particular reason for wishing you to copy 
this letter ?— I think I was with the 
Duke of Yo)-k at the time he wrote tliat 
letter, and as he generally copies letters 
that he does write himself, that I tnider- 
took to copy it, to save liim the trouble. 
[The witness withdrew. 

CHARLES TAYLOR, Esq. a member 
of the House, attending in his place, 
was examined by the committee, as 
follows : 

Do you believe that to be Gen. Clav- 
cring's hand-writing ? — Yes, I do. 

Are you acquainted with his hand- 
writing ? — Yes, 1 am. 

Did you ever see general Chivering 
write \ — How could I possibly assert I 
knew his hand- writing, if I had not. 

[The letter was read, dated the 8th of 
February, 1808. 

*• Limmer's Hotel, Conduit-street, 
" 8th Feb. 6 P. M. 
*f My dear Mrs. C , 

" 1 have just heard that you had it 
*• in contemplation to subpoena me be- 
*' fore the House of Commons ; the re- 
" port, \ hope, is unfounded ; at all 
*' events, I a-m partiaUarly to beg, that 
" you will take every care that w?j/ ?iame 
" even be in no shape whatever, or on 
** an SI account, brought before the Ho'use 
" of Commons, as being a family man, 
*' the world would be inclined to attri- 
'' bote motives to our acquaintance, 
■?' v/hich, tliough not existing, all the 



56? 

" arguments in the universe would not 
" persuade them to the contrary. 
" With great regard, 
" Truly your's, 

" H. M. Claverino." 
" In haste, 6 P. M, 
•' Mrs. Clarke, 
" Westbourn -place, Sloane-street.'^ 

Mr. THOMAS LOWTEN was 
called in. 

Examined by the Com,mtttee. 

You are a Solicitor ?— I am an Attor- 
ney at Law and Solicitor. 

Do you remember being employed by 
Mr. Adam in the year 1805 to make 
any inquiries relatingto Mrs. Clarke ?— 
I do. The first application to me upon 
that subject was from his Royal High- 
ness tlie Duke of York in the month of 
Octobei',1805, io consequence of a letter 
which had been written to him. I had 
the honour to see his Royal Highness, 
and he communicated tome the business 
in which he wished me to be employed, 
and I acted professionally and confiden- 
tially for him upon that occasion. 

In the course of such inquiries did 
you receive, any, and what proofs that 
Mrs. Clarke had made use of his Royal 
Highness the Duke of York's name to 
raise itioney ?"-I cannot say that I did, 
in any inquiries that I made, discover 
that she had made use of the Duke of 
York's name to raise money. It appear- 
ed to me, that, in consequence of the 
protection she had from the Duke of 
Yoi k, and tlie way she lived, many per- 
sons were induced to trust her further 
than I think they would have done, if it 
had not been for tliat protection. 

In the course of tliat inquiry did any 
pecuniary transaction turn out, in which 
Mrs. Clarke was concerned, that in your 
opinion injured in any degree the cliar- 
actcr of his Royal Highness the Duke of 
York !---My inquiries upon that occasion 
were not directed to the purpose of 
knowing what transactions she had with 
respect to money concerns ; they were 
of a nature wliich regarded Mrs.Clarke's 
husband and her family rather than the 
mode in which she acquired money. 

Do 1 understand you to say, ytniwere 
not directed by Mr. Adam to investigate 
the circumstance of any pecuniary trans- 
action in which the use of the Duke of 
York's name had been made ?— I do not 
particularly recollect that Mr. Adam ever 



361 



liirected me to inquire particularly as to 
any transaction in wliicli the Di.k^' of 
York's name was made use of with re- 
spect 10 money ; he had communication 
upon that subject wivh a gentleman who 
■was more at liberty to go about than I 
was, which was Mr. Wilkinson. 

Do younot recollect Mr. Adam stating 
tO}Ou, tiiat he considered the conduct 
of Mrs. Clarke had been very incori-ect 
in pecuniary transactions, in the use of 
the Duke of York's name '--I do not 
recollect it. 

Uoyou recollect stating upon paper 
the resvdt of your investigation of the 
inquiries to his Royal Highness the 
Duke of York ?---In the beginning of 
the month of May, 1806, having acquir- 
ed as mucli evidence as appeared to me 
to be necessary for the purpose of satis- 
fying the Duke of York on the subjects 
on which I was employed, those several 
matters which did so come to my knowl- 
edge were reduced to writing, and I do 
not know whether through Mr. Adam 
or some other person were communicat- 
ed to his Royal Highness the Duke of 
York. 

When you had finished the ex.amina- 
tion, did you communicate the resut of 
it with the proofs to his Royal Higliness 
the Duke of York ? — 1 put them into a 
train, and they went to iiis Royal Higli- 
ness. I did not deliver them myself ; I 
knew from his Royal Highness that he 
had them. 

To whom did you deliver them to be 
conveyed to his Royal Highness ! — As 
to the hand, whether I delivered them 
myself, or any clerk, or any servant, I 
cannot tell. 

Were they conveyed by yo\irself or 
any other confidential person i — 1 really 
do not recollect. 

Are you sure that the result, and the 
documents upon which the result was 
founded, were communicated to his Roy- 
al Highness ? — 1 have got in my pocket 
the thing that 1 ommunicated to his 
Royal Highness ; 1 communicated all 
such things as appeared to me xo be ne- 
cessary and proper. 

Are you sure that the result, and the 
documents upon which that res'tilt was 
founded, were communicated to his 
Royal Highness .' — I believe they were. 

Do you recollect, that with those pa- 
pers there were any documents to prove, 
that any money was i-aiscd in the Duke 
of York's name, by Mrs. Clarke ? — I 



think there were not, but the paper wiU 

speak for itself. 

[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

[The witness was again called in.] 

Do you know the Reverend William 
Williams ? — I know very little of him ; 
I remember him some years ago being 
about the Court of King's Bench, and 
very troublesome to Mr. William Jones, 
the marshal. 

Have you seen nothing of him lately ? 
— I never saw him till that night he was 
before this House, for seven or eight 
years. 

You did not see theReverend William 
Williams lately, before he was examined 
at this House ? — 1 saw him about seven 
o'clock that evening. 

Was that previous to his examination 
before the committee ?— Ii was. 

Was no application made to you by 
Mr Williams, or by you to Mr. Wil- 
liams, befoi-e that ? — I had no application 
from Mr. Williams, nor did I make any 
to Mr. Williams, nor did I see Mr. Wil- 
liams, except about three minutes in the 
lobby about seven o'clock, before he was 
examined. 

Had you any i-eason for thinking Mr. 
Williams insane ? — I was induced to 
think very inditierenily of him, as to iiis 
character and sanity , seven or eiglit years 
ago, on his calling upon me ; I wrote to 
my friend Mr. Jones, the marshal, and 
in answer I received a letter from him 
saying. Have nothing to do with Mr. 
Williams, for he is mad. 

Do you recollect sending any person 
to Mr. Nicholl's at Hampstead, some 
days ago ? — I do. 

Who was that person ? — It was Mr. 
Thomas Wright, who lives upon Haver- 
stock Hill, near Hampstead. 

What was the object of sending Mr. 
Wright to Mr. NichoUs upon that occa- 
sion ?— I sent Mr Wright to find out 
wliere Mr. NichoUs lived, as I was told 
he was removed from Hampstead to a 
farm ; and Mr. Wright being- a resident 
at Hampstead, I thought him most like- 
ly to find out where it was he lived. 

Why did you wish to find out where 
he lived ? — I had received intimation by 
a letter, that Mr. NichoUs could give 
material evidence as to the matter of in- 
quiry before this honourable House. 

What description of evidence ? — It 
v/as respecting Mrs. Clarke and Mi". 
Dowler living at his house in the vcars 
180r and 1808, 



162 



Did you wish to inquire after any let- 
ters that were supposed to be in the pos- 
session of Mr. Nicholls :— I did not wish 
to inquire, for I knew nothing of any 
letters that were in his possession till he 
osime to be examined before this honor- 
ble House. 

In the representation you made,of the 
result of the inquiries into the conduct 
of Mrs. Clarke, was any part of it tliat 
she had raised money under the real or 
•fictitious patronage of military promo- 
tion ? — It did not occur to me in my in- 
quiry, tliat any such transaction had 
taken place ; it was not part of my in- 
quiry ; I never believed one word upon 
that subject. 

Have you had an interview with gen- 
eral Clavering during the course of this 
inquiry ? — On the day that general Clav- 
ering was first examined he called upon 
me in the Temple. 

Did he call upon you previous to his 
examination ? — He did. 

What passed in that conversation ? — 
1 will state as nearly as I can : general 
Clavering when he came to me said, 
that he had seen the statement made by 
Mrs. Clarke, in which his name had 
been mentioned ; that he could contra- 
dict th.at statement very materially ; he 
gave me his account of the contradic- 
tion, of which I made a memorandum in 
writing ; after that, to my surprise, 
when I came down here, general Clav- 
ering came to where I was at Alice's 
coffee house with a letter ready written, 
addressed to his Majesty's Attorney 
General, in which he made use of my 
name I thought improperly ; and I de- 
sired that my name might not be intro 
duced ; but that if he had any thing to 
communicate to the Attorney General, 
he would write it in his own name. 

Did you advise general Clavering to 
write a letter to the Attorney Gener.al, 
or any other member of this House ? — I 
did not advise him in any other way tJian 
I have just now stated. 

What advice did you give to general 
Clavering ? — Not to make use of my 
name in any letter he might write to tiie 
Attorney Gcjieral. 

That is negative advice ; what posi- 
tive advice did you give him ? — I did 
not give him any advice to offer himself 
to be examined ; but that, if he could 
give any contradiction to Mrs. Clarke's 
evidence, I thought it would be materi- 
al he shoidd be examined. 

Did you advise him to offer himself to 



be examined, if his evidence could ma- 
terially contradict Mrs. Clarke's ? — I did 
not advise him to offer himself volunta- 
rily to be examined. 

Did you give him any advice, as the 
result of your conversation with him ? — 
I really thought general Clavering com- 
petent to advise himself upon the sub- 
ject ; I did not give him any advice fur- 
tlier than common conversation, to say 
if you will be examined send in your let- 
ter ; I was not consulted by him by way 
of advice. 

What was the occasion of his coming 
to communicate with you ? — I really do 
not know : he said, when he came in, 
tliat he had a statement to m;'kc that 
would contradict Mrs Clai-ke's state- 
ment ; and I think he said, that he had 
seen colonel Gordon, and that he had 
desired him to call upon me. 

Did you understand that he came to 
j'ou, in conseq\ience of the desire of col- 
onel Gordon ? — I believe parth from the 
desire of colonel Gordon, and partly from 
a wish of his own, to contradict the 
statement made by Mrs. Clarke ; so I 
understood it. 

Did he ask you whut would be the 
best course for him to pursue, after his 
conversation with you ? — He did not. 

Did he say that he would write any 
letter to tlie Attorney General, or any 
other member of Parliament ? — He did 
not. 

At the time he left you, did you sup- 
pose he was about to offer himself as a 
voluntary witness before this committee? 
— When he left me in the Temple I did 
not suppose or expect any such a thing ; 
when lie quitted me at Alice's coffee- 
house I did expect it. 

Did you pur any questions to him to 
know what any evidence he could com- 
municate to this committee might be i 
I did ; I asked general Clavering sever- 
al questions as to his knowledge of Mrs. 
Clarke ; how long he had known her, 
where he had seen her last, and other 
questions, which occurred to me as pro- 
per for the investigation of the business 
in which I was engrfged. 

Did you ask him any question, wheth- 
er he had offered Mrs. Claike any money 
for promotion, or for raising a regiment, 
to be prociu'ed through her influence 
with the Duke of York ? — I did not ; I 
should have thought it most imperti- 
nent, as I could not conceive a general 
oilicer cotild be guilty of any such con- 
duct. 



363 



Did he communicate any such infor- 
mation to yoi ? — Certainly not. 

Did you question liim gcnei-ally witli 
reg'ard to liis communication and inter- 
course and acquaintance with Mrs. 
Clarki ? — 1 did ; and it appeared to me, 
from the paper which lie produced, that 
Mrs. Clarke was making use of him for 
the purpose of getting some person pro- 
moted from one reginient to another ; 
and it appeared thai a letter dated in 
the Temple, and apparently signed by a 
Mr Sumner, contained a recommenda- 
tion of that person so wished to be pro- 
moted, and wiio he stated to me, Mrs. 
Clarke had represented as a relation of 
an honourable member of this House, 
and which letter he was to transmit to 
the Duke of York, in order to obtain that 
promotion. 

Did you ask him, wliether he had 
maintained any corresponilence with 
Mrs. Clarke upon the subjects of milita- 
ry promotion, or matters connected 
therewith ' — I did not ; and I knew of 
no other instance than the one 1 have 
just mentioned. 

Did he give you to understand, that 
he had cnmmunicated to you ftilly all 
that passed between him and Mrs. Clarke 
upon the subject of military promotion, 
or matters connected therewith ? — He 
did not say any thing to me upon that 
question, furtlier than I have stated to 
the committee. 

Did he inform you tiiat he had shewn 
a letter, addressed to the Attorney Gen- 
eral, to any other person before he shew- 
ed it to you .' — 1 do not recollect that he 
did ; there were two other persons pre- 
sent when he shewed it to me. 

Are you sure tliat you advised him to 
omit your name out of that letter ? — I 
am. 

Are you sure that he omitted it in 
consequence of your representation to 
him ? — He destroyed the first letter, and 
he wrote another, and read it to me, 
without my name being- inserted in it. 

Did you make any observation upon 
the second letter ? — I cannot say that I 
did ; I do not recollect that I did. 

In liie conversation that you have 
stated to have passed bet ween' general 
Claverlng and you, did the words, '• If 
you will be examined, you had better 
send a letter," pass at Alice's cofiee- 
house, or in the j)revioiis interview with 
general Clavering ? — I said, if you will 
be examined, you had better send a let- 
ter ; that was at Alice's cofice -house. 



Did you advise general Clavering to 

call upon Mi . Ogilvie, or any other per- 
sons, touching the inquiry respecting 
Mrs. Clarke ? — General Claverlng men- 
tioned the name of Mr Ogilvie to me, 
as being the person who first introduced 
him to Mrs. Clarke, and said he could 
get this information from Mr. Ogilvie ; 
and it is possible I might say, then you 
had better see Mr Ogilvie. 

Did general Claverlng give you any 
account afterwards of having seen Mr, 
Ogilvie ? — I think he did, btit I will not 
be positive ; Hlo not recollect any thing 
that he said. 

You have mentioned, that before Mr. 
NichoUs came to the House of Commons 
to be exaiiilned,you were not aware that 
he was in possession of any letters ; did 
you see those letters before Mr. NichoUs 
came to the bar of the House with 
them ? — I did see four bundles ofletters 
in the possession of Mr. NichoUs. 

Did you examine those bundles ? — I 
believe 1 turned over many of the let- 
ters, but I did not read any one of 
them. 

Were they examined in the presence of 
Mr. NichoUs or any other person ? — The 
examination that 1 had was in the pres- 
ence of Mr. NichoUs, and did not last 
five minutes ; other persons were pres- 
ent ; Mr. NichoUs' wife was present ; 
I returned all the letters as I received 
them from him. 

Did you know of any sums of money 
paid by his Royal Highness to Mrs. 
Clarke during her residence in Glouces- 
ter-place ! — I did not. 

Have you with you the paper on which 
you wrote the result of your conversa- 
tion with general Claverlng ? — I have 
not. 

Have you in your recollection the 
contents of that paper, so as to enable 
you to state it to the House ? — I believe 
that paper, which was the rough copy 
of a paper which I wrote in the Tem- 
ple, was sent into the House with his 
letter. ■ 

Did you recommend general Claver- 
lng to send in that examination ; was it 
inclosed in the letter, or how was it sent? 
— It was given, I believe, to general 
Claverlng open, without being inclosed 
In any etter. 

Was it in your hand-writing, or gen- 
eral Claverlng's — la mine. 

Was It inclosed in ihe same cover as 
general Clavering's letter ? — Certainly 
not. 



364 



\ What do you mean by sayin,^ that it 
was st-nl in wiih the letter ? — I believe 
I gave it to general Clavering in the cof- 
fee -liouse. 

Who were present when you turned 
over those letters of Mr. NichoUs' ? — 
Mr. Nicliolls, Mrs. NichoUs, and Mr. 
Wright. 

Nobody else ? — Nobody else. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

[The witness was again called in. 3 

Have you any, and what reason to be- 
lieve that Mrs. Clarke ever raised any 
money on tlie credit of his Royal Hig-h- 
ness the Duke of York ? — I do "oi kr,ow 
that Mrs. Clarke ever raised any money 
on the credit of the Duke of York; that 
she might get a great deal of credit with 
tradesmen for goods supplied to her in 
consequence of living in the way in 
which she did 

In consequence of the inquiries which 
you made, did you find that Mrs. Clarke 
had ever raised any money upon the cre- 
dit of the Duke of York ? — I cannot say 
expressly that ever I did find it in any 
other way than I have before stated, that 
she got into debt to various tradesmen 
to a considerable amount, who were in- 
duced to irusi her in consequence of her 
connexion with the Duke of York. 

T^ook at the sul)pa:na inclosed in the 
letter wlilch you have ; wliat is the 
name of the cause in which that sub- 
poena was ? — Turner against Mary Ann 
Clarke. 

Do yoti know from your situation as 
clerk of Nisi Prius m Middlesex, whe- 
ther that cause was entered for trial in 
Middlesex ? — I recollect perfectly that 
it was entered for trial, and it stood for 
trial, I believe, upon the 12th of May, 
1806, jt'.st before the cause was to be 
tried, it was withdrawn. 

State howyou receivedthatletterwith 
the subpccna inclosed. I cannot posi- 
tively recollect ; I rather believe Mr. 
Adam communicated it to me ; or what 
other gentleman wlio had comnuuiica- 
t.ion with the Duke of York did so, I 
really do not know! 

I..ook at the signature of that letter, 
and merely read the name at the bottom 
of it. — The name appearing at the bot- 
tom of tliis letter is Henry Turner. 

Are you acquainted with him ? — Just 
as I am acquainted with many other 
persons in town ; I do not know that 
over 1 spoke to him Inni} life. 

Do you know what he is ? — I believe 



a pawnbroker, in Prifices'-sti^etjLeicte*- 
ter-fields. 

Do you know the hand-writing ? — I 
do not. 

How do you know that it is his hand- 
writing ? — 1 believe it to be the hand, 
writing of Henry Turner, who I know 
was' living in John-street, Golden- 
square. 

Do you know thai Mr. Henry Tur- 
ner, wiio lives near Golden -square, is 
the Mr. Henry Tui'ner who signed that 
letter ? — I do not. 

During the connexion between the 
Duke of York and Mrs Clarke, did you 
ever know that Mrs. Clarke raised mo- 
ney upon the credit of the Duke of York's 
name ?— I do not. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

JOHN WILKINSON, Esq. wag 
called in. 

Examined by the CoTnmittee. 

In what capacity do you live with Mr. 
Lowten ? — I do not live with Mr. Low- 
ten. 

In what capacity are you ever em- 
ployed by Mr. Lowten ? — I am very fre- 
quently employed by Mr Lowten in the 
transaction of various businesses that 
arise in his office. 

Do you recollect being employed by 
Mr. Lowten ui the year 1805, to make 
any inquiries relating to Mrs. Clarke 2 — ■ 
I was. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

[The witness was again called in.] 

In the course of such inquiries, liave 
you any proof that you can give to this 
House, of any money transactions in 
wiiich Mrs. Clarke made useoftheDuke 
of York's name ? — I really do not know 
what this House would consider as proof; 
it came to my know edge in the month 
of May, that the Duke of York had re- 
ceived notice that he was to be subpccna'd 
in an action brought against Mi s. Clarke 
for money due to u man of the name of 
Turner ; Mr. Turner's attorney, Mr. 
Bachelor, called upon me, and informed 
me he was going to serve the Duke of 
York with a subpoena, and read me a 
letter, which he said he had advised his 
client to send with llie sub])oena ; but I 
had no proof that the money was due 
from Mrs. Clarke. 

Do yovi know of any instance in which 
Mrs. Clarke made use of the Duke qf 
Yoi'k's name to raise money ? — I do not, 
of my own knowledge. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 



365 



Mi3s MARY ANN TAYLOR was 

called in. 

Examined by the Committee. 

In your former examination have you 
not said, that you were very intimate 
with Mrs. Clarke, and frequently visited 
at Gloucester-place ? — Yes. 

When the Duke of York was present 
at those visits, was there any body in 
company besides, at any time, that you 
can recollect ? — None, except the ser- 
vants, ever. 

Upon those occasions, did the conver- 
sation in your presence appear free 
and unrestrained ? — Yes, quite so. 

Do you recollect, at any time when 
you were present, any conversation tak- 
ing" place between Mrs. Clarke and his 
Royal Highness the Duke of York, rela- 
tive to military promotions ?— Nothing, 
except that time about colonel French. 

Recollect, whether at that conversa- 
tion relative to colonel French, you were 
perfectly sure there was nobody present 
but Mrs.Clai'ke, yourself, and his Roy- 
al Highness the Duke of York. — Yes, I 
am very certain of it. 

Are you sure that the words that were 
used by Mrs. Clarke, on the occasion 
of the Duke of York's referring to her 
upon the conduct of colonel French to- 
wards her, were, that his behaviour was 
middling, but not very well \ — Yes. 

YoM are sure those were the words I— 
Those were the words. 

Did you at any time afterwards have 
any conversation with Mrs. Clarke rela- 
tive to the observation of the D'ike of 
York upon colonel French's business ? — 
Not till within these three weeks or a 
month. 

What was the conversation you had 
at that time ? — She asked me, if I recol- 
lected the Duke of York mentioning 
colonel French's name in my pi-es- 
ence. 

Did any thing else pass upon that oc- 
casion ? — I immediately recollected the 
circumstance, and told her. 

Did Mrs. Clarke make any reply to 
that observation, and what .' — ^I do not 
recollect what she said. 

Do you at all recollect any further 
conversation that passed at the time, 
when the Duke of York made that ob- 
s<;rvation relative to colonel French's 
levy, besides what you have already giv- 
en in evidence ? — No, nothing at all up- 
on that subject. 

Do you recollect, at any time, Mrs. 
Clarke's stating in your presence to the 
47 



Duke of York, any wish in favour of ar^ 
application for mill' ary promotion ? — 
Never. 

Do you recollect, at any time, Mrs. 
Clarke applying to tlie Duke of York in 
your presence for money ? — No. 

Did any conversation at any time takrt 
place in your liearing between his Royal 
Highness the Duke of York and Mrs. 
Clarke, with respect to the pecuniary 
difficulties under which she laboured ?-- • 
No, never. 

Do you recollect that Mrs. Clarke n'er 
stated to his Royal Highness the Diike 
of York, that colonel French luul broken 
any pecuniary promise he had made l.er ? 
—No, I do not rt collect it. 

Do you now know Mrs. Hovenden ? 
— What is meant by now ? 

How long is it since vfui have ceased 
being acquainted with Mrs. Hovenden t 
— More than two years. 

Can you assign anv reason for not 
being acquainted with Mrs. Ho. enden 
a«. present ?- I did not retiurn the ast 
vi.sit she made me, I suppose that is the 
reason. 

Can you inf(^rm the committee w'lerc 
Mrs Hovenden lived at th;it \mc ] — In 
South Molton. street, I think, Oxford- 
street. 

Do you recollect at what number ? — 
No. 1 cannot recollect the numbor. 

Do you recollect how long she lived in 
South Molton-Street ? — I never knew. 

How long had yo ' known iier icfore 
she lived in South Moltun-street ? — She 
was there when firs. I saw her. 

How long was youi-ucquuintance with 
her ? — Not above seven or eight m^<u'hs. 

Is Mcs. Hovenden a widow or a mar- 
ried woman ? — She was a married wo- 
man, slie is now a widow. 

Do you know whei'e she lives now ?— 
No, not at all. 

I think you said that till three weeks 
ago, you had not mentioned the expres- 
sion respecting colonel French si>ice it 
passed ; do you mean to state that ?— 
N^, I do not think I ever did mention 
it. 

Then it was to Mrs. Clarke ? — Yes, it 
was 

How long ago is it since you heard the 
expression respecting colonel French ? 
— I do not say it was during Mrs. 
Clarke's residence in Gloucester-place. 

About how long ? — I cannot say. 

Was it a year, or two years ago ? — 
More than two years a^p 

Wa."? it four years ^gi) i— No, I do ntit 



S66 



({link that it was quite so much, though 
I cannot say. 

Was it the winter or the summer ? — 
That 1 cannot recollect. 

Cannot you recollect at all what part 
of the year it was in ? — No. 

Nor 'Ahat year it was in ? — No. 

You have totally forgotten how long 
ago it was, or what part of the year it 
was in ? — Yes, I have quite forgotten it. 

Was there any circtimstance at the 
time passing which induced you to take 
particular notice, or to bear in ^our re- 
collection the expression ? — The chief 
circumstance was, that I never saw col- 
onel French, though I had heard his 
name, wh'ch made me curious when I 
heard his name, respecting him. 

No other circumstance but the one 
you have mentioned ' — No other. 

After an interval of four years, you re- 
collect a particular expression, witliout 
any intervening circumstance ever hav- 
ing happened to call it to your reinem- 
brance ? — O, yes, I have tliought of it 
since, though I have not mentioned it. 

You had never mentioned it to any 
body before you mentioned it to Mrs. 
Clarke, three weeks ago ? — 1 believe 
not. 

What brought it into your thoughts so 
now and then ? — The curiosity that I 
mentioned before, respecting a man that 
1 was not allowed to see. 

Can you recollect what passed with 
Mrs Clarke three weeks ago, upon the 
occasion of this conversation respecting 
colonel French ? — No, nothing. 

Not one expression or circumstance 
that passed three weeks ago with Mrs. 
Clarke ? — No, I do not recollect any. 

Is your memory so defective as to have 
forgotten all that passed in the conversa- 
tion three weeks ago with Mrs. Clarke ? 
— That is very possible, for it did not 
interest me at all. 

Where was it that Mrs. Clarke brought 
to your recollection or inquired about 
Coi. French ? — At her house in West- 
bourne -place. 

Was it at that time proposed to 
bring the subject forward in an inquiry? 
—I do not know about that. 

Was any body present when thispass- 
ed between IwtrSl Clarke and you ? — I 
believe not. 

Have you forgotten that too ? — Yes. 

Cannot you now recollect any one 
feet or circumstance that passed three 
■W' tks ;,go wji'l^ Mis .plarke, or even 
wlio was presei^'? — 1 do not think any 



body was present, and 1 ddnol recollect 

any fact or circumstance 

How came Mrs Clarke to be making 
any inquiry about this ?--! did not ask 
her that. ^ 

Do you mean to state you df) not know^ 
upon what occasion the conversation be- 
tween Mrs. Clarke and yourself arose f 
I^The witness was directed to ■vyithdraw. 

[The witness was again called in, and 
the question was proposed. 3 

I suppose someihmg relating to this 
business ; I did not think of it at the 
time. 

Did not Mrs. Clarke inform you at 
the time wh} she was making this in- 
quiry ? — 1 do not recollect that she did. 

Will you positively say that she did 
not ? — No, 1 will not. because I am not 
sure 

Had any body been in your presence! 
with- Mrs. Clarke prior to the inquiry, 
asking questions upon the same subject? 
— No, I believe not. 

Cannot you remember that ? — I can- 
not remember it, if it was the case. 

Cannot you remember, whether three 
weeks ago any body had, in your pres- 
ence, been inquiring of Mrs. Clarke on 
the subject of military promotions by 
the Duke of York, or any thing which, 
is now the subject of inquiry ? — They 
did not inquire in my presence. 

When vou were here before, you stat- 
ed that your father and mother were liv- 
ing, and of the name of Tavlor ?— Yes, 
I did. 

Is that true ? - Yes. 

Does not your father go by the name 
of Chance I— He never told me that he 
did. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

[The witness was again called m."] 

Did your father ever go by the name 
of Chance ?— He never told me that he 
did. 

Do you mean to state that you never 
heard any body call him by the name of 
Chance ? — No, I do not think that I ever 
did. 

Have you a doubt about it ? — None, 
I believe. 

Then do you mean to state that he has 
always passed by the name of Taylor I 
—To the best of my knowledge. 

Recollect yourself, whether you mean 
to persevere in that, that throughout thfe 
whole lime you have known your father, 
you never knew him called by any othelr 



3^ 



name than the name of Taylor ?— Never 
througliout the whole time I have known 
him. 

Do I understand you to say, that dur- 
ing all the time you have known him, 
you never yourself, or in your presence, 
heard any body call him by the nume of 
Cliauce ? — No, never. 

Do you know Mrs. Favcry ? — As far 
as she was a servant to M;s. Clarke. 

How long have you known her ? — 
Nearly as long as I have known Mrs. 
Clarke. 
^ How long is that ? — Some eight or 
ivine vears, I suppose. 

Did Mrs. Favery, all the time you 
have known her, go by the name of Fa- 
very, or by any other, and what name ? 
— When first 1 knew Mrs. Clarke, she 
went by the name of Martha, b\it I did 
not know her surname. 

Do you mean thai Mrs. Favery went 
by ihe name of Martha ? — Yes. 

Did you never hear Mrs. Favery goby 
any other name than that of Favery, or 
Martha ?--I do not recollect that I did. 

Dia you visit Mrs. Favery when she 
lived with Mr. Ellis ? — 1 called upon 
her once ; not as a visitor. 

Whom did you inquire for at Mr. El- 
lis' ? — It was Mrs. Clarke's sister went 
with me : I was not the inquirer. 

Did you not hear Mrs. Clarke's sister 
inquire for her as Mrs. Favery, or by 
some other name ? — I believe Mrs. Fa- 
very opened the door. 

How long wei-e you together ? — I can- 
not say. 

\ By what name did you or your com- 
panion address that woman ? — By the 
name of Martha. 

An4,nt''oth^rname ? — No other name. 

Do you mean to state (recollect your- 
self before you answer that question) 
that that person never went by the name 
of Farquhar ? — Never to my knowledge. 

You have known her nine years ? — 
Yes, about that time. 

And in no part of that time did she ever 
§^0 by the name of Farquhar ? — I never 
heard her called by that name. 

Were you well acquainted with her 
while she lived with Mr. Ellis ? — Yes, 
she had lived with Mrs. Clarke, pre- 
vious to that. 

You had known her when she lived 
with Mrs. Clarke, previous to her liv- 
ing with Mr. Ellis ? — Yes. 

Do not you remember, that when she 
went to live with Mr. Ellis, she took the 



name of Farquhar ? — I never heard that 
circumstance. 

Do you mean to say, that she continu- 
ed to go by the name either of Martha 
or Favery, after she quitted Mrs.Clarke, 
and went to live with Mr. Ellis ? — I 
never knew her by any other name. 

Do you remember Mrs. Favery being 
married ? — There was some talk of it in 
the house, but it was scaicely believed. 

D'd you know any of the relations of 
Mrs. Favery ? — Not one. 

You never saw her husband, or the 
person to wliom there was a talk of her 
being married ?--No, never. 

You never saw a person of the name 
of Walmesley ! — No, 1 never saw him. 

Do you recollect your father's fat her ? 
— No, he was dead many years before I 
was born. 

What was his name ? — I do not know 
what his name was ; I never talked to" 
any body about him. 

Might not your father, from distress, 
to avoid his creditors, have taken the 
name of Chance, or any other name, 
without your knowledge .'—Then hovr 
should 1 know it. 

Have you had a niece of Mrs. Hoven- 
den's under your care at any time I — 
Yes, more than two years ago ; she staid 
with me only a few weeks on a visit. 

Is jour f.ther now alive ' — Yes, he is. 

Do you know whether your mother 
has been in custody for debt, within a 
short time ?— I cannot answer that. 

Do you not know that jour mot'ner 
has been in execution for debt ? — My 
mother has nothing to do with the pres- 
ent subject. 

[Tile chairman informed the witness 
she must answer the question.] 

Do you not know that your niotlier 
has been in execution for debt ? — I must 
appeal to the indtitgence of the chair" 
man ; I cunnot answer it. 
£ I'he chairman infjimed the witness 

that, in his opinion, she must answer 

the question.] 

Do you know that your mother has 
been in custody for debt ? — Yes. 

How long ? — Nearly two years. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 
Mr. DEDERICK SMITH was called 

in, and examined by the committee, 

as follows : 

What are you ?— A brazier and tin- 
man. 

Do you know Miss Mary AnnTayUr, 
•f China-row, Cbftlsea ?— Yes. 



368" 



How long have you known her ? — I 

cannot exaciij say, but 1 iluiikaboul fif- 
teen years ; I am not certain exactly to 
the time. 

Do you know her mother ? — Yes, I 
do. 

How long may you have known her 
mother ? — About the same time. 

Do yon know her father ? — Yes, I do. 

Do >ou know wliat his name is J — His 
name is Thomas Chance. 

Do you know his profession ? — His 
profession was formerly a stock- broker, 
but he failed, I believe. 

Did he ever do any business for you 
in that profession ? — Yes, lie has. 

' Did you ever make a purchase of land 
oChim ? — Yes, 1 did. 

In what name did he convey it ?— In 
the name of Ghante. 

Did he ever tell you he had a wife J— 
His wife was Mrs. Taylor, she passed as 
his wife 

Didhe ever tell you that he had anoth- 
er wife ? — No, he never told me so. 

Did you ever apply for him at the 
stock exchange under the name of Tay- 
lor ? — Yes, 1 have. 

Could you find him by tliat name ? — 
No.. . : 

Under what name did you find him ? 
—The name of Thomas Chance. 

How long has he ceased to be a bro- 
ker ? — To the best of my knowledge, 
two years ; but I will not be certain. 

Did he do business publicly at the 
stock exchange every day as Thomas 
Change ?— Yes, he did. 

Was he known by any other name 
than thart, of Cliance ?— He was not. 

Did you ever see him with his 
dangbter, Mary Ann Taylor ? — Yes, I 
have. . , 

Did he go by the name of Chance at 
that time ? — No, he went by the name 
Of'I'Uv'lor. 

W hat was your reason for inquiring 
for liim by the name of Taylor, at the 
8t<>Gk exchange ?-^Because at that time 
I (lid not know but what his name was 
Taylor. 

■ K<v\v came you to apprehend that the 
namt- of a man was Taylor, whom you 
knew by the name of Chitnce ?--! found 
out tlicn that his n;ime was Chance ; be- 
fore, I always thought his name was 
Taylor ; I found out when I began to 
deal with him, and not before. 

At what time did you f\nd out that the 
name of this person wasCi.ance ?--! can- 
rot exactly say the time, but it was that 



time when I wanted him to do business 
for me at the stock exchange. 

By what name did tlie person of whom 
you are speaking, go, when you were . 
first acquainted with him ? — He went by ^ 
the name of Thomas Taylor. 

How long ago was that I — O, that i$ 
a good many years ago, ever since I 
knew him. 

How long did he continue to go by 
that name, to the best of your knowledge 
and belief ? — He has gone by that name 
till I found out that his name was 
Chance, when he began to do business 
for me at the stock exchange. 

About how long ago may that be, that 
you apprehended that the true name of 
this party was Chance ' — My memory 
will not furnish me with that ; but it is 
several years ago, that is all I can say ; 
I could find it out by papers, but my 
memory is very bad, and therefore lean- 
not go any further. 

In what neighbourhood did the party 
of whom you speak live, when you knew 
him by the name of Taylor ? — He lived 
in Norman-street, and he lived at Bays-, 
water, and all that time I knew him but 
by no other name than that of Thomas 
I'aylor ; nor my family, never any of 
them knew him by any other name. 

To the best of your knowledge and 
belief, was the party universally known,, 
in all that neiglibourhood, by the name 
of Taylor, and no other name ? — Yes, he 
was. 

Do you i-ecollect Mrs.Taylor and Miss 
Mary Ann Taylor calling at your house 
one day with a bill, or an instrument of 
that kind, to get cash for it ? — They call- 
ed at my house, and Mrs.Tw'loe vtfanted 
to borrow some money of ir.e ; she said 
she had a paper to give me as a securi- 
ty, which she would not trust with any 
body else. 

Did you state tothem,that Mr.Chancc 
was coming to your house on that day ! 
—1 did. 

Did they know him to be the person 
that you knew as Mr. Taylor N-Yes. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw. 

[Tiie witness was again called in.] 

Did Mary Ann Taylor make any ob- 
servation, upon your stating that Mr. 
Chance was coming ?— She laughed, and 
said to the mother, we will say we only 
paid Mr. Smith a morning visit. 
[The witness was directed to withdraw, 

[The witness was again called in.] 

What did Mrs. and Miss Taylor, or 
either of them, say or do in consequence^ 



369 



of y'Wr telling them Mr. Chance would 
be there thai morning' N—Miss Taylor 
said to the mother, we will tell my fa- 
ther (I think, I will not be positive) if 
he comes, that we only paid Mr. Smith 
a morning' visit ; they stopped a bit, and 
then they went away. 

Are you quite sure that when you told 
Mrs. Taylor and her daug'hter this per- 
son was coming, you made use of the 
name of Chance ; are you quite sure 
you did not say, Mr. Taylor is coming ? 
—I am not quite sure ; I think I said 
Mr. Taylor, by way of a compliment. 

Have you any means of knowing, that 
Miss Mary Ann Taylor knew her father 
by the name of Chance ; and if you 
have, what are those means ? — I have no 
means of knowing that she did. 
[|The witness was directed to withdraw. 

General the honourable CH APPLE 
NORTON, attending in his place, 
was examined by the committee, as 
follows : 

Do you recollect the state in which 
the army was, when his Royal Highness 
took the command of it, in regard par- 
ticularly to the mode in which the pro- 
motions and commissions of the army 
were carried on ? — 1 believe in former 
days.those officers who had great weight 
of interest, might have got promoted 
very rapidly, much sooner perhaps than 
was right or proper ; his Royal High- 
ness made, in my opinion, very salutary 
regulations to prevent tliat. I could, if 
it was not trespassing too much upon 
the time of the committee, speak very 
fully to what I believe, and what has 
come to my knowledge, to have been the 
conduct of the Commander in Chief 
since he has been at the head of the ar- 
my. 

State any particular circumstances that 
are within your own knowledge, with 
reference to this particular part of the 
subject. — Perhaps of all others, this is a 
subject I am least able to spe.ik to ; but 
the conduct of his Royal Highness, with 
respect to the army in general, I can 
speak to at large. That he has done 
more service to the army than all his 
predecessors the Commmulers inChief ; 
and I will state in what manner : in the 
first place, and what is very material, I 
recollect very well, that his Royal H'gh- 
ness, I believe, was the instrument and 
the means, through the medium of this 
House, of giving- bread to the soldier 
when he had little or nothing' to eat ; 



and 1 will exemplify that by a conversa- 
tion 1 had with a lieutenant colonel of 
one of the best regiments in his Majes- 
ty's service, the late lord Cornwallis', 
colonel York. I was very sensible of 
the very scanty pittance the soldier had 
to subsist on in this country, and I en- 
deavoured to do what I could to assist 
in the measure ; and colonel York sup- 
plied me with a very strong instance, 
which was, when the 33d regiment waa 
about to return home from a foreign sta- 
tion. According to the articles of war, 
the commanding officer of each regi- 
ment so returning is to make known to 
his men, that any soldier who wishes to 
remain behind upon that station is at lib- 
erty so to do ; the men of the 33d regi- 
ment informed colonel York that it was 
their intention all to remain behind, and 
to continue abroad, because where they 
were they had sufficient to eat, and if 
they came to this country they should 
not have a dinner. 

His Royal Highness first got an allow- 
ance of bread to the soldiers, and after- 
wards of beer, and then their pay in- 
creased, and upon which the soldiers are 
very comfortable. If it was not weary- 
ing the time of the committee, I could 
mention another very singular instance. 
After the American war, I recollect a 
soldier in my own company (I was in the 
Coldstream regiment of guards) that 
came home, and had been vei'y severely 
wounded ; he was discharged from the 
regiment, the regiment had nothing fur- 
ther then to do with him ; he was recom» 
mended to Chelsea, but Chelsea had n© 
means of taking care of him ; and the 
man would have been left to perish, if it 
had not been for the quarter-master of 
the Coldstream, who went to the offi- 
cers at Chelsea, and the officers at 
Chelsea did get the man taken care of. 
Since that, (I take for granted his Royal 
Higliness was very much the means of 
doing it) the York Hospital v/as insti- 
tuted, so that the men have not been left 
m that distressed situation since the A- 
merican war. 

In your opinion have the condition 
and discipline of the army, upon the 
whole, declined or improved, since his 
Royal Highness took the command l — - 
I am one of. those, unfortunately, who 
think there was a very good system in 
the army, with regard to discipline, be- 
fore his Royal Highness came to the 
head of it. 

Referring to the time when his Royai 



SfQ 



Highness took the command of the ar- 
mv, and the latter pan of lord Amlit i si's 
time, ha8 tlie stale- of llie army improv- 
ed since Ins Jtoyul Highness look tlie 
command ? -There was a very good 
system then, or else our regiments would 
not iiave gamed iliose advantages winch 
they did ; and 1 really do not know that 
it 18 better now than it was then, if I 
am tospe;.k my opinion. 

The Right Honourable General FITZ- 
PA'l'RICK, altendmg m his place, 
Avas examined by the Committee, as 
follows : 

Do } ou recollect the state in which 
the army was, when his Royal Highness 
took liie command of it, in regartl, par- 
ticularly, to the mode in which the pro 
motions and commissions in llie uimy 
were carried on ?---! am persuaded that 
tlu-re is no oflicer of long standing in the 
service can recollect the stale of liie ar- 
jny previous to his Royal Highness tak- 
ing the command, who will not be ready 
to testify the very great improvement 
which the army has derived, in every 
rcsi)ect, from his Royal Highness' man- 
agemenl of it ; I do not presume 10 give 
this opinion on my own experience 
merely, having no pretensions myself 
but that of long standing in the army ; 
I consider myself as a competent judge 
of the qiiesticm, 1 really believe the noto- 
riety of this fact to every oHicer who has 
any knowledge or experience upon the 
subject, is such, as in my humble opin- 
ion, to liave made any such reference to 
general officers wholly tinnecessary ; 
and all 1 have to say upon this subject is, 
that there is no oHicer in the army who 
will contradict the fact. 

The Right Honourable the SECRETA- 
RY AT WAR, attending in his 
place, was examined as follows : 
Do yon recollect ihe stale in which 
the army was when his Royal Highness 
took the command of it, in regard, par- 
ticularly, to the mode in which the pro- 
iions and commissions in the army were 
curried f)n ?— 1 can only s.iy, that I con- 
cur entirely in every svllabli- which was 
delivered by my right honour.ibk- friend 
over against me, (general Fitzpatrick) 
with regard to the manner u^ which pro- 
motions were carried on before the pre- 
sent Commander in Chief assunnd the 
command of the army ; particularly in 
tlie period immediately preceding his 
appointment, there was certainly great 



abuse, aiiid such as, if continued, must 

have pr ived highly detrimental to the 
service. It is notorious that rank in 
commissions, and rank in the army,wero 
got entirely by money, or, what was the 
same tiling, by raising a certain number 
of men, indeed more generally by pay- 
ing for it ; there were many instances of 
officers who attained their rank of ma- 
jor, I believe of lieutenant colonel, in, 
the space of one or two years. His 
Royal Highness soon after he assumed 
the command, eslablislu-d a regulation, 
in consequence of which no officer could 
attain the rank of captain before lie had 
served iwo years, nor that of field offi- 
cer before he had served six ; and 1 be- 
lieve those rtgulaiions have been rigidly 
adiiered lo, and have been of infinite 
service to the army. 

Slate whether in your opinion, upon 
the whole, the condition and discipline 
of the army have declined or improved 
during the time his Royal Highness has 
been Commander in Chief? -In ex- 
pressing my concurrence with what had 
fallen trom my right honourable friend, 
I have answered that question. 1 cer- 
tainly conceive that the condition of the 
army is very considerably improved, and 
I am certain that its discipline particu- 
larly (meafiing the discipline m the 
field) has improved to a very great de-_ 
gree. I recollect when it was a matter 
of difficulty to place five or six regiments 
upon the giounil, so, I mean, as to be 
enahled to act against an enemy ; that 
operation is now performed with as 
much facility as that of placing a com- 
pany ; when those five or six regiments 
were so placed, it was a matter of great 
difiiculty to make them move in an uni- 
form line, that is now done with the ut- 
most precision and facility ; I therefore 
conceive without going further, that the 
disci])line of the army, and their power 
of action, have very cynsiderably im- 
proved by the uniform s) stem which has 
been produced under the auspices of the 
present Commander in Chjef, and that 
to that great part of oar military glory 
is owing. 

Th" Right Honourable Sir ARTHUR 
Wl^LLESLEY, K. B. attending in 
his place, was examined as follows : 
Do you recollect the slate in which 
the army was, when his Royal Highness 
took the command of it, in regard par- 
ticularly to thr mode in which promo- 
tions md commissions in the army were 



sn 



carried on ? — With respect to the manner 
»f condiicting promotions in the army, 
I cannot say thai 1 knew much about it 
before the present Commander in Chief 
was appointed ; 1 rather believe, how- 
ever, from all I have heard, that it was 
very irregularly conducted ; that a leg'- 
ulation which existed at that time, that 
no officer should be made a captain till 
he had served two years, was frequently 
broken through, and that much injus- 
tice was done to many old officers in the 
army ; I know that since his Royal 
Highness has had the command of the 
army, the regulations framed by him for 
managing the promotion of the army 
have been strictly adhered to, and that 
the mode in w) ichthe promotion is con- 
ducted has given general satisfaction. 1 
must also stute tluit besides my knowl 
edge, as a general officer of the army, of 
the mode in wliich the promotiims of 
the army are conducted, 1 liave some 
knowledge "f it from my official situa- 
tion ; and having had frequently to ap- 
plvtohis Royal Highness for promotion 
for difTerent officers, in consequence of 
applications which have been made to 
me, I have never found in any one in- 
stance, that his Royal Highness has de- 
parted fritn the regulations laid down 
for the promotion of the army, or that 
heJias done injustice to any individual. 
I must also state, that in applyingto his 
Roval Highness, which I fiequently do, 
for ensigncies, I 'lave found his Royal 
Highness invariably ready to attend to 
my applicati(ms, and 1 also know that 
many persons have got commissions from 
his Royal Highness, by applying direct 
to liim, without coining through me. In 
respect of the state of the arm\', ] can 
say from my own Icnowledge, as having 
been a lieutenant colonel in the army 
when his Royal Highness was appointed 



to command it, and having a very inti- 
mate knowledge of it since, that it is 
materially improved in every respect ; 
that the discipline of the soldiers is im- 
proved ; that, owing to the establish- 
ments formed under the directions of his 
Royal Higliness, the officers are im- 
proved in knowledge ; that the staff of 
the army is much better than it was, and 
much more complete than it was ; that 
the cavalry is improved ; that the offi- 
cers of the cavalry are better than they 
were ; that the army is more complete 
in officers ; that the system of subordi- 
nation among the officers of the army is 
better than it was ; and that the whole 
system of the management of the 
clothing of tiie army, and the interior 
economy of the regiments, and every 
thingt hat relates to the militarydiscipline 
of the soldiers, and the military efficiency 
of the army has been greatly improved 
since his Royal Highness was appointed 
commander in duel'. 

Do you consider the improvement you 
have specified to be owing to the per- 
sonal superintendance and personal ex- 
ertions of his Royal Highness the com- 
mander in chief ?---The improvements 
to wliich I have adverted, have been 
owing to the regulations of his Royal 
Highness, and to his personal superin- 
tendance, and his personal exertions 
over the general officers and others who 
were to see thoseregulations carried in- 
to execution. 

General GROSVENOR, attending in 
his place, made the following- state- 
ment : 

I wish to state my humble testimony 
of liie higli sense 1 entertain of the ad- 
vantages the army has derived from the 
zeal, attention, and care, of his Royai 
Highness the Commander in Chief. 



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